Ryonan's Counterattack, the True Ace!

"An... assist?"

Hanamichi Sakuragi was pulled up from the floor by Shirakawa, his mind still a complete mess.

Hadn't he just fallen down? Hadn't he made a mistake?

How had it become an assist?

And a world-class one at that?

The players around them all looked at Shirakawa as if he were insane.

What... nonsense was this guy spouting?

Calling such a ridiculous blunder a world-class assist?

You called that an assist?

That was clearly just a blind cat stumbling across a dead mouse!

Yet Shirakawa wore a thoroughly serious expression.

With an arm around Sakuragi's shoulders, he spoke earnestly. "Sakuragi, that move you just pulled off was truly brilliant!"

"You deliberately used that exaggerated fall to draw the attention of every defender and make them let down their guard."

"Then, with a pass that looked like a mistake but was actually incomparably precise, you sent the ball right into the only lane I could sprint through!"

"That supreme tactic of making a feint in the east while attacking in the west, deceiving everyone under heaven—it was simply a stroke of genius!"

"I hereby call it the 'Genius Sakuragi's Century Ass-

ist'!"

Shirakawa spoke with complete seriousness and vivid detail, as though everything that had just happened really had been carefully planned by Sakuragi.

Sakuragi listened in a daze, his eyes growing wider and wider.

So...

So he had been that amazing just now?

So that hadn't been a mistake, but a tactic?

He recalled what had happened: he fell down, everyone looked at him and laughed, and then Shirakawa charged over like a bolt of lightning...

That's right!

Exactly!

He had fallen on purpose! He had passed the ball to Lord Shirakawa on purpose!

"Wahahahahahaha!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi suddenly planted his hands on his hips and threw back his head in laughter, his voice filled with the sudden realization that he was a genius.

"Did you see that, you bunch of mortals?!"

Pointing at the utterly petrified Ryonan players, he roared spiritedly, "This is the strength of a genius! My wisdom is something you will never be able to reach!"

The Ryonan players: "..."

The Shohoku players: "..."

Like hell we believed you! You red-haired monkey were wicked as hell!

Ryota Miyagi could no longer bear to watch. He silently turned away, his shoulders shaking as he clearly struggled to hold back his laughter.

Kaede Rukawa merely gave Sakuragi a cold glance and spat out two words. "Idiot."

Only Shirakawa continued playing along with Sakuragi.

He nodded approvingly. "That's right, Sakuragi. You are Shohoku's deepest-hidden secret weapon!"

"We'll be counting on you in the second half!"

"Ooooooh! Leave it to me, Lord Shirakawa!"

Sakuragi was instantly pumped full of adrenaline. He felt strength surging through his entire body, and he wanted to rush across the court right now and pull off another "Century Assist"!

Over on Ryonan's side, they were utterly speechless.

Watching those two clowns play off each other, they felt as though their intelligence had been severely insulted.

"Damn it... are those two bastards playing with us?!" Uozumi ground his teeth in fury.

For the first time, a grave expression appeared on Akira Sendoh's face.

As he looked at Shirakawa, turbulent waves rose in his heart.

That explosive burst of power in that instant...

That speed, so fast that not even an afterimage could be seen...

It was absolutely not something an ordinary high schooler could possess!

And this guy's scheming was far too deep.

Not only had he taken advantage of Sakuragi's mis-

take, he had also turned that mistake into encouragement for Sakuragi—and mockery aimed at the entire Ryonan team.

Three birds with one stone!

This man... was terrifying!

Sendoh took a deep breath. He knew he could not hold back any longer.

If he allowed that Number 1 to control the rhythm of the game so freely, Ryonan really would lose today!

"Get your heads in the game!"

For the first time, Sendoh's voice turned stern.

"From now on, get the ball to me!"

Seeing Sendoh's unprecedentedly serious expression, the Ryonan players all stiffened and answered in unison, "Yes!"

Ryonan went on the offensive.

Sendoh received the ball in the backcourt.

He no longer organized the offense at a leisurely pace as before, nor did he wait to go one-on-one with Kaede Rukawa.

He went directly into attack mode!

His eyes became intensely focused—and razor-sharp!

He glanced at Shohoku's defensive positioning, then accelerated straight toward their defensive line!

Kaede Rukawa immediately stepped up to meet him!

But this time, Sendoh had no intention of getting tangled up with him!

Just before their bodies collided, he made a ghostlike change of direction. The basketball fluttered back and forth between his legs like a butterfly among flowers!

A continuous, high-speed series of between-the-legs dribbles and direction changes!

Kaede Rukawa's pupils abruptly contracted!

He could not keep up with Sendoh's rhythm at all!

Sendoh was like the greatest dancer, performing the most magnificent dance upon a blade's edge!

After only an instant of hesitation, Sendoh had already blown past Kaede Rukawa!

"Stop him!"

Akagi roared and, together with Miyagi, formed a two-man wall in front of Sendoh!

Yet faced with their double-team, Sendoh showed no trace of panic.

As though he had expected it all along, when he charged before them, he took an inconceivable step-back, instantly opening the distance from Akagi and Miyagi. Then, before they could close the trap, he flicked his wrist and threaded the ball through the gap between them!

The basketball found Uozumi with pinpoint accuracy, completely unguarded on the other side!

"Uozumi!"

Sendoh shouted.

Uozumi caught the ball. With no one beneath the basket, he roared, leaped high, and slammed it home with both hands!

36:34!

Ryonan had taken the lead once again!

"Waaaaah! Sendoh! Sendoh!"

"This is our ace!"

"So strong! Sendoh tore through Shohoku's entire defense all by himself!"

The Ryonan spectator stands erupted once more!

Coach Taoka leapt to his feet and clapped forcefully!

"Did you see that, Anzai?! Did you see that, Shohoku?!"

"This is the true ace! This is real team basketball!"

"Under my command and Sendoh's leadership, Ryonan is unbeatable!"

It was as though he could already see the dawn of victory.

On Shohoku's side, everyone fell silent.

The shock Sendoh's play had brought them was simply too great.

He had not only displayed unstoppable individual ability, but also terrifying court vision and passing skill.

By himself, he had brought the entire Ryonan team to life.

"Damn it..." Akagi slammed a fist into his palm in frustration.

"That guy... he was still holding something back..." Miyagi's expression was equally grave.

Only Shirakawa remained as calm as ever.

He glanced at the scoreboard, then at the clock.

Less than a minute remained in the first half.

He walked over to his still-stunned teammates and clapped his hands.

"What are you all standing around for?"

His voice was not loud, but it was like a shot of adrenaline that snapped everyone back to their senses.

"So they scored a basket. What's the big deal?"

"The game's not over yet."

He picked up the basketball and walked to the baseline, preparing to inbound it.

His gaze swept across every teammate's face.

Akagi's frustration, Miyagi's gravity, Kaede Rukawa's unwillingness, Sakuragi's... blank stare.

Shirakawa suddenly smiled.

Slowly, he said something to everyone that they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

"All right, everyone."

"The warm-up is over."

"Now, I'm going to get serious."