Sendo's Resolve, Ace Against Ace!

"Beeep—!"

The whistle marking the start of the second half echoed through the arena.

The Ryonan Team had possession.

Tomoyuki Uekusa inbounded the ball to Akira Sendoh, then habitually ran toward the frontcourt.

However, after receiving the ball, Sendoh did not hand it to the point guard to set up the offense as he had in the first half. Instead, he personally brought the ball up toward Shohoku's half.

That sight left everyone stunned.

"Sendoh... is going to play point guard himself?"

"What's going on? Is Ryonan changing formations?"

The stands erupted with discussion.

Coach Taoka sat on the bench, watching Sendoh on the court with a complicated look in his eyes.

During halftime, he had tried to arrange all kinds of tactics aimed at Shirakawa—zone defense, box-and-one—but Sendoh had rejected every one of them.

"Coach," Sendoh had said, looking at him with an unquestionable tone, "tactics won't work against him."

"In the second half, leave him to me."

"I'll personally shut him down."

Seeing the unprecedented seriousness in his prized student's eyes, Coach Taoka could only nod helplessly in the end.

He knew that whenever Sendoh wore that expression, it meant he intended to bring the game completely under his control.

Either he would lead Ryonan to victory.

Or he would burn himself out completely in his clash with that monster.

On the court, the Shohoku Players had also noticed Ryonan's change.

"Hey, that guy's coming himself." Ryota Miyagi lowered his center of gravity and spoke to Shirakawa beside him.

"Yeah, I saw." Shirakawa nodded, still wearing that lazy expression as though Sendoh's awakening did not concern him in the slightest.

"Do you need me to..." Miyagi had been about to ask, "Do you need me to help double-team him?"

But Shirakawa cut him off directly. "No. Just hold your own positions."

"This guy is mine."

Miyagi froze, then gave a bitter smile.

Fine. A showdown between aces really was not something an ordinary person like him could interfere with.

Sendoh dribbled into the frontcourt. He did not even glance at his defender, Miyagi, instead looking directly at Shirakawa beyond the three-point line.

His eyes were full of provocation.

As if he were saying: Come on. I'm your opponent.

Shirakawa understood his meaning. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he stepped forward twice and met him head-on.

Seeing this, Miyagi wisely backed away to guard Ryonan's Uekusa.

And so, an astonishing scene appeared on the court.

Shohoku's No. 1 and Ryonan's No. 7.

The two teams' aces matched up directly at the very start of the second half!

"Wow! Ace versus ace!"

"Sendoh is going to defend No. 1 himself!"

"Now this is going to be good! Sendoh is one of the best defensive small forwards in Kanagawa!"

The atmosphere throughout the arena was instantly ignited!

Kaede Rukawa stood in the corner, watching the two figures facing off as he silently clenched his fists.

Once upon a—

time, the one standing there and facing Sendoh should have been him.

But now, he could only watch from the side like a spectator.

The feeling left him incredibly stifled and unwilling to accept it.

"Shirakawa..."

He silently repeated that name in his heart.

You'd better not lose.

On the court, Sendoh began to move against Shirakawa's defense.

His dribbling remained dazzling and fluid, but unlike the first half, every move he made was filled with aggression!

He repeatedly changed direction and used jab steps, trying to find a flaw in Shirakawa's defense.

However, Shirakawa was like an old pine rooted in the earth. No matter how Sendoh feinted, his center of gravity remained as steady as a rock, without shifting in the slightest.

This guy... is his defense this strong too?

For the first time, Sendoh felt a trace of doubt in his own offense.

He took a deep breath and stopped probing!

Suddenly, he explosively accelerated and forcefully drove toward Shirakawa's right!

Now!

Shirakawa's eyes narrowed slightly.

The instant Sendoh took off, Shirakawa's body moved sideways like a cheetah, sliding over to block Sendoh's driving lane dead!

"What?!"

Sendoh was shocked!

He had never expected Shirakawa's reaction speed to be even faster than his own!

He felt as though he had slammed into a wall, his forward momentum forcibly stopped!

But Sendoh was still Sendoh.

The instant his body lost balance, he relied on his powerful core strength to force a pass out in midair!

The basketball flew toward Uozumi in the paint!

"Great job, Sendoh!"

Uozumi caught the ball, roared, and prepared to rise up for a powerful dunk!

However, a large hand descended from the sky and viciously slammed down on the basketball!

It was Akagi!

Following Shirakawa's instructions, he had stayed under the basket, waiting for this very moment!

"Don't even think about scoring in front of me, Uozumi!"

Akagi roared and forcefully ripped the ball from Uozumi's hands!

"Counterattack!"

After landing, Akagi did not even look before firing a long pass toward the frontcourt!

A white figure had already shot out like lightning!

It was Shirakawa!

The instant he stopped Sendoh's drive and Sendoh passed the ball, he had already turned and sprinted toward Ryonan's half!

"Get back! Get back on defense!"

Coach Taoka roared himself hoarse from the sidelines.

But it was all too late.

Shirakawa was too fast!

When he received the ball, an open, boundless plain stretched out before him!

He was like a wild horse freed from its reins, racing across the court without restraint!

The Ryonan players could only watch helplessly as his back grew farther and farther away.

Sendoh chased with all his might from behind, but the distance between him and Shirakawa kept widening at a visible pace.

"Damn it... is this guy... a monster?!"

Looking at that unreachable back, Sendoh felt a deep sense of powerlessness rise within him.

Under the gaze of the entire arena, Shirakawa easily cut into the paint, then delivered a light, effortless one-handed gliding tomahawk dunk!

"Bang!"

38:36!

Shohoku had taken the lead once again!

The entire sequence—from defense, to the steal, to the fast-break score—flowed in one seamless motion!

Smooth as flowing water!

With a perfect display of offense and defense, Shirakawa announced to everyone—

Akira Sendoh's awakening?

Ace against ace?

Sorry.

Before me, your script is worth nothing.