Their once-bright, piercing eyes, so full of fighting spirit, had grown unfocused and bloodshot. All their pride and confidence had faded, leaving only inescapable exhaustion and frustration, along with a numbness they could barely hide.
Their movements had slowed considerably, no longer as swift and sharp as at the start of the game. Their defensive footwork had become unsteady, their attempts to steal the ball had lost most of their force, and sometimes they even zoned out, unable to react to their opponents' passing lanes.
It wasn't that they didn't want to fight. This game had simply become an endless ordeal for them.
Without pausing for even a moment, Kanagawa kept up its offensive pace despite having victory firmly in hand. Before the Akita players could recover, they launched another unstoppable assault on the basket. The ball traced a swift, sharp arc through the air, whistling as it flew straight toward Sakuragi Hanamichi with almost no unnecessary wobble.
Sakuragi Hanamichi's gaze sharpened. His large hand caught the incoming ball securely, its solid impact pressing against his palm. The pass carried plenty of force, but he controlled it perfectly, never coming close to losing his grip.
Chi Tong, who had made the pass, remained utterly composed throughout. His movements were so casual that he seemed to be playing around. With no deliberate exertion or unnecessary feints, he simply flicked the ball into his teammate's hands. That effortless composure laid bare the overwhelming gap in their abilities, as though Akita's defense meant nothing to him.
The instant he caught the ball, Sakuragi Hanamichi's presence surged. His already powerful body seemed like a flame set ablaze, his eagle-sharp eyes locked on Akita's basket. He drove hard off the floor and charged toward it with the ball, moving at an astonishing speed and stirring