Showdown of Aces: Kaede Rukawa's Fighting Spirit!

When Kaede Rukawa saw Shirakawa's gesture, he froze.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

What... did this guy mean?

He was giving Sendo to me?

Wasn't he the ace? Wasn't he the core?

Why was he handing the ball over to me?

Kaede Rukawa's heart was filled with confusion, incomprehension, and a trace of anger at being... looked down on.

He did not need anyone's charity!

He would use his own way to reclaim the pride he had just lost to Sendo, fair and square!

Yet the very next second, Shirakawa's actions dispelled all his doubts.

Without the slightest hesitation, Shirakawa made a precise cross-court pass, sending the ball steadily into Kaede Rukawa's hands.

At the same time, his voice carried over clearly, audible only to the two of them.

"Go on. Show him who Shohoku's real ace is."

Those words struck Kaede Rukawa's heart like an electric current.

He abruptly lifted his head and looked at Shirakawa.

The usual laziness and flippancy were gone from Shirakawa's face, replaced by absolute, unquestionable trust.

That look seemed to say:

I believe in you.

I believe you can crush him.

Kaede Rukawa's heart trembled.

He understood.

Shirakawa was not giving him charity, nor was he looking down on him.

He was using his own way to ignite Kaede Rukawa's fighting spirit!

He was telling him that Shohoku had more than one ace!

"Idiot..."

Kaede Rukawa cursed under his breath, but the corner of his mouth rose slightly despite himself.

In those icy eyes, an unprecedented, blazing fighting spirit ignited!

"Sendo!"

With the ball in hand, Kaede Rukawa fixed his opponent before him with a blade-sharp gaze.

Sendo was slightly taken aback by the sight, then revealed an intrigued smile.

Oh?

So he had given Rukawa the ball?

What exactly was that white-haired kid thinking?

Still, this was good too.

Compared to that unfathomable guy, this idiot who only had one-on-one battles on his mind was much easier to deal with.

"Come on, Kaede Rukawa." Sendo spread his arms and took up a defensive stance. "Let me see how much you've improved over these past few months."

"Cut the crap!"

Kaede Rukawa growled and moved!

His dribbling was full of aggression! Every bounce of the ball seemed to vent his fury!

A lightning-fast crossover!

He tried to drive past Sendo's left side!

Sendo reacted with incredible speed, immediately sliding over to cut off his path.

Kaede Rukawa did not pause for even an instant, stopping sharply in the middle of his drive!

The basketball passed beneath his legs, switching from his left hand to his right!

Then came a spin move!

The entire sequence flowed like water, dazzlingly elegant!

"He's fast!"

"What incredible moves!"

The spectators along the court all cried out in amazement!

Yet Sendo was like an experienced hunter. Faced with Kaede Rukawa's dazzling combination, he remained unmoved, his feet steady as a rock as he stood firmly in Kaede Rukawa's path.

He knew Kaede Rukawa too well.

He knew this man would definitely choose the flashiest, most difficult way to finish this attack.

Sure enough!

After his consecutive changes of direction and spin moves failed to shake Sendo completely, Kaede Rukawa chose the most direct—and most domineering—method!

He forcibly rose up against Sendo's defense!

A fadeaway jumper!

He would answer Sendo's last basket with the exact same move!

"Too naive!"

Sendo sneered. He had already predicted Kaede Rukawa's move!

He had calculated Kaede Rukawa's takeoff timing and release point, leaping up with him and extending his long arm to blot out the sky!

He was one hundred percent confident that he could block this shot!

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the basketball—

Kaede Rukawa's body rose even higher in midair!

Terrifying hang time!

Sendo's pupils contracted sharply!

This guy... could still rise?!

That fraction-of-a-second advantage in hang time gave Kaede Rukawa the fleeting sliver of space he needed to shoot!

His wrist flicked lightly.

The basketball flew over Sendo's fingertips!

Swish!

Nothing but net!

4:3!

Shohoku had taken the lead once again!

"Waaaaaah!"

This time, it was Shohoku's few supporters who erupted into wild cheers!

"Kaede Rukawa! Kaede Rukawa!"

"Great job, Kaede Rukawa!"

Akagi, Miyagi, and the others excitedly pumped their fists as well.

This was the Kaede Rukawa they knew—

the super rookie who never admitted defeat and was always brimming with confidence!

After scoring, Kaede Rukawa landed and coldly glanced at Sendo, who stood frozen in place in shock.

"I'll take that last basket."

With that, he turned and ran off, leaving Sendo with a proud, aloof back.

As Sendo watched him leave, the smile on his face finally vanished completely.

Far from being angry, he became excited.

"Haha... hahahaha!"

Sendo suddenly burst into laughter, his voice filled with exhilaration and delight.

"Interesting! This is too interesting, Kaede Rukawa!"

"As expected, you haven't disappointed me!"

A fated clash between two aces had been completely ignited just minutes into the game!

The atmosphere throughout the arena reached its first peak because of it!

Everyone was immersed in this dazzling confrontation.

Only two people were exceptions.

Ryonan's coach, Mitsuyoshi Taoka, sat at the bench with a smug expression.

"Yes! That's it! Fight! Fight! The harder you fight, the better!"

"Kaede Rukawa! Show off your talent to your heart's content! Then let our Sendo crush you without mercy!"

He believed the pace of the game had already fallen completely under his control.

The other exception was Shirakawa.

Standing in the backcourt, he watched the two guys having their "battle of the gods" and yawned.

"Sigh, young people really do have plenty of fire."

He glanced at the scoreboard, then at the clock.

"Fine, I'll let you two play a little longer."

"After all, the final victory will only be mine."