Caught in the Crossfire? (Part One)

Chapter 227: Fukuda Kicchou gritted his teeth and drove off the floor. He shot forward like an arrow, anger pushing his already quick feet to their limit.

The wind roared past his ears as he closed in on Kishimoto Minori.

In the blink of an eye, Fukuda Kicchou caught Kishimoto Minori just as he was about to enter Ryonan's paint. He even reached out to steal the ball from the side.

What?

Kishimoto Minori caught sight of the figure closing in behind him and jolted. He had never expected Fukuda Kicchou to catch up so quickly after being shoved aside!

Panicked, he had no time to look back. He could only react on instinct.

At the last second, Anben Shili flicked his wrist and slammed the ball against the floor. It bounced straight toward Minami Retsu, who stood in front of the three-point line.

The bounce pass was rushed but precise. Minami Retsu caught it and, without a moment's hesitation, rose to shoot at Ryonan's basket.

No!

Fukuda Kicchou's heart sank when he saw Minami Retsu jump. He instinctively charged two steps forward and reached out to contest the shot, but there was still too much distance between them. He would never make it!

Minami Retsu was already high in the air, his arm muscles taut and his eyes fixed on Ryonan's basket. Power gathered in his fingertips.

Just as Minami Retsu began his shooting motion, a white figure flashed out from behind Kishimoto Minori. It moved so fast it almost left an afterimage, the rush of air stirring the hem of Kishimoto Minori's jersey.

The figure shot toward Minami Retsu like lightning.

Anben Shili caught a blur at the edge of his vision and turned. The white figure had already reached Minami Retsu from behind. Anben Shili recognized the