Is This Your Answer, Akira Sendoh?!

After scoring, Shirakawa showed no sign of celebration.

He simply jumped down from the rim in silence, then turned around and slowly made his way back.

As he passed Akira Sendoh, who was still gasping for breath, he stopped.

He looked at Sendoh's face, filled with unwillingness and shock, and suddenly smiled.

"Is that all?"

Shirakawa's voice was not loud, but it struck Sendoh's heart like a heavy hammer.

"I thought you were going to show me something impressive."

"So this is all you've got?"

"Your pass got stolen, you couldn't catch up on defense, and you couldn't even see my taillights."

"Akira Sendoh, is this the answer you came up with after finding your resolve?"

"Honestly... I'm so disappointed."

With that, Shirakawa shook his head, wearing an utterly bored expression as he brushed past him.

Humiliation!

Naked, blatant humiliation!

Akira Sendoh's body trembled slightly.

Not from exhaustion, but from rage!

In all his years of life, all his years of playing basketball, he had never suffered such disgrace!

Getting blown past in one step, having his pass stolen for a fast-break counterattack, being left far behind, and then getting mocked to his face in such a contemptuous tone!

"Bastard..."

Sendoh's teeth ground together, and his eyes instantly turned bloodshot!

The fury in his heart was like a volcano on the verge of eruption!

"Calm down, Sendoh!"

Ryonan's captain, Uozumi, noticed that something was wrong with Sendoh and hurried over, patting him on the shoulder.

"Don't let him provoke you! That guy is doing it on purpose!"

Sendoh took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart.

He knew Uozumi was right.

That white-haired kid was not only freakishly skilled at basketball; his psychological tactics were first-rate too.

He wanted to provoke him, make him lose his mind, and trap him into playing one-on-one.

He could not fall for it!

Absolutely not!

Sendoh closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the anger in his gaze had vanished, replaced by a deeper, colder fighting spirit.

Shirakawa.

I admit it. I underestimated you.

Your speed and your defense both exceeded my expectations.

But the game has only just begun.

I, Akira Sendoh, haven't lost yet!

Ryonan went on offense.

Sendoh still brought the ball up himself.

This time, he did not force his way past Shirakawa. Instead, he used his height and court vision to direct his teammates' movements, constantly searching for holes in Shohoku's defense.

He was like an experienced commander, calmly deploying his troops.

"Pass!"

After a brilliant sequence of ball movement, Ryonan's shooter, Hiroaki Koshino, found an open opportunity beyond the three-point line!

With a flick of his wrist, Sendoh delivered the basketball precisely into his hands!

Koshino caught the ball, jumped, and shot!

"Don't even think about it!"

A figure lunged out from the side like a ghost!

It was Ryota Miyagi!

Following Shirakawa's instructions, he had been prowling around the perimeter like a hunting hound waiting for its chance!

Smack!

Miyagi's hand struck the basketball with pinpoint precision!

A block!

A guard had actually blocked a forward's three-pointer!

"What?!"

Hiroaki Koshino stared in disbelief. He had never expected Miyagi to come flying in from that angle!

After being blocked, the basketball bounced high into the air.

A red figure sprang high from the crowd like a tiger descending a mountain, firmly pulling the rebound into his arms!

It was Hanamichi Sakuragi!

"Rebound King! Sakuragi!" Sakuragi shouted excitedly after grabbing the board.

"Pass it to me!"

Shirakawa's voice rang out at just the right moment.

Without even thinking, Sakuragi threw the ball to Shirakawa.

Shirakawa caught it and glanced at Ryonan's defensive formation.

Sendoh had already retreated in time, spreading his arms before him with a grave expression.

Ryonan's other players had also gotten back into position quickly, no longer giving Shohoku a chance to fast break.

The game once again entered a half-court battle.

"Come on." Sendoh looked at Shirakawa and said in a deep voice, "I won't let you get past me this time."

His face was filled with confidence.

After the lesson just now, he had figured it out.

Shirakawa might be fast, but as long as he anticipated his moves early, kept the right distance, and did not let him beat him with that first step, Shirakawa would have no way through!

As long as he kept him outside the three-point line and prevented him from driving inside, his threat would be greatly reduced!

After all, no one could do whatever they wanted from beyond the three-point line.

That was what Sendoh thought.

That was what Coach Taoka thought.

That was what every spectator present thought as well.

However, they were all wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Shirakawa looked at Sendoh, who wore a grave expression and had assumed what he believed was the perfect defensive stance, then suddenly smiled.

That smile was filled with pity.

As if he were looking at a pitiful fool who had only ever seen the sky from the bottom of a well.

"Who told you I was going to drive?"

Shirakawa tilted his head. Then, before Sendoh's stunned eyes, he slowly raised the basketball in his hand.

What was he doing?

Was he going to shoot?

From here?

From a spot still one step beyond the three-point line?

And with Sendoh defending him?!

Countless question marks flashed through Sendoh's mind in an instant.

However, Shirakawa gave him no time to think.

His body leaned slightly backward as he assumed an extremely standard fadeaway jumper form.

Then, under Sendoh's watchful gaze, he gently released the ball.

The motion was effortless and elegant.

As though he were not in the middle of a fierce game.

But merely taking casual shooting practice in his backyard.

The ball traced a high, perfect arc through the air.

Sendoh's heart rose to his throat along with that soaring basketball.

Impossible...

There's no way that goes in!

From this distance, with this level of defense...

If that goes in, then I'll...

Swish!

A crisp, pleasing sound that made Akira Sendoh's very soul tremble.

Nothing but net!

41:36!

Three-pointer made!