Mitsui's Shot Was a Work of Art

On the court.

Miuradai's captain, Murasame, looked at this bizarre bunch of opponents and let out a disdainful sneer.

"So you think putting a bunch of punks with dyed hair and earrings on the court means you can win?"

"Don't make me laugh."

"Basketball isn't a fight."

"Hey, redhead."

Murasame pointed at Hanamichi Sakuragi. "Do you even know how to play? Don't go crying for your mommy later."

Several vein marks instantly popped up on Hanamichi Sakuragi's forehead.

Just as he was about to explode, Takenori Akagi, who was preparing to leave the court, walked over.

"Sakuragi."

Akagi extended his large hand and gave Sakuragi's shoulder a heavy pat.

"Though I really hate to admit it, you're the only one who can take my place now."

Akagi's gaze was unusually serious.

"Don't worry about offense. You only have one job: protect the paint to the death!"

"Grab every rebound!"

"Don't let me down!"

Sakuragi froze for a moment.

This was the first time the gorilla had entrusted him with a task so solemnly.

An unprecedented sense of mission surged from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

"Hmph, of course!"

"This genius is the Rebound King!"

"Just watch from down there, gorilla!" Sakuragi puffed out his chest, his nostrils aimed at the sky.

Akagi's mouth twitched.

Suppressing the urge to punch him, he turned and left the court.

The game continued.

Shohoku's lineup underwent a complete transformation.

Power forward (PF): Hanamichi Sakuragi.

Small forward (SF): Kaede Rukawa.

Point guard (PG): Ryota Miyagi.

Shooting guard (SG): Hisashi Mitsui.

And Lin Bei...

He stood in a strange position.

Neither guard nor forward, he was like a ghost drifting outside the system.

Coach Anzai sat courtside, a flash of white light glinting across his glasses.

"Lin Bei's ability to switch between multiple positions, combined with Sakuragi's athletic talent... that is Shohoku's chemistry."

"Tweet—!"

The game began.

Miuradai inbounded the ball.

But before the ball even crossed half court, a lightning-fast figure shot out.

"So fast!!"

The entire arena cried out.

Ryota Miyagi was like a cheetah, instantly closing in on the opposing point guard.

"This speed... how is that possible?!"

Miuradai's point guard was horrified, nearly losing control of the ball.

In the instant he panicked, Miyagi's hand sliced in with scalpel-like precision.

"Slap!"

Steal!

"Fast break!!"

Miyagi roared, turning into an afterimage as he charged toward the front court.

"Don't think you can get away!" Murasame roared as he sprinted back on defense.

But Miyagi did not even look at the basket. While racing forward at full speed, he gave his wrist an incredibly subtle flick.

The basketball flew out from behind him as if it had eyes, heading straight for the left corner.

Kaede Rukawa had already arrived there at full speed.

Catch, leap, layup.

The movements flowed like water, impossibly graceful.

"Swish!"

The ball went in.

The entire sequence took less than three seconds.

"Waaaah! That number 7 is so fast!!"

"That number 11 is so cool too!!"

The stands instantly erupted.

Ayako stood at the sidelines, vigorously waving her paper fan. "Nice one! Ryota! That's the speed of the number one point guard!"

The moment he heard Ayako's voice, Ryota Miyagi completely melted.

His eyes turned into enormous hearts, and his whole body seemed to float. "Ayako... she praised me... she praised me..."

"Hehehe..."

While Miyagi was immersed in pink bubbles, Miuradai inbounded from the baseline.

Their opponents were clearly veterans too. Taking advantage of Miyagi's lovestruck distraction, they immediately launched a long pass.

"Watch out!!" Kogure shouted from the bench.

The opposing forward intercepted the ball and was about to launch a counterattack.

But the moment he turned around, the ball suddenly slipped from his hand.

It was not a mistake.

A hand had poked it away.

The ball bounced once on the floor, then inexplicably flew toward the area near midcourt.

Lin Bei happened to be standing there.

He did not even look at the ball, nor did he adjust his posture.

As if his wrist were spring-loaded, he simply pushed with the ball's momentum the instant it arrived.

[Accelerated Pass]!

The basketball instantly transformed into an orange laser, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.

"Bang—!!"

The ball flew at an astonishing speed, passing directly through a gap between three defenders before smashing precisely into Hisashi Mitsui's chest beyond the three-point line.

The instant Mitsui caught the ball, the immense force even knocked him half a step backward.

But he did not hesitate.

Adjust, jump, raise the ball.

A textbook shooting form.

His wrist snapped down softly.

The basketball traced a perfect rainbow through the air.

At that moment, time seemed to slow.

The veteran spectators in the stands stared at that familiar figure.

That perfect form smashed open the gates of their memories.

"That posture..."

"Isn't that from Takeishi Middle School..."

"Swish!!"

The crisp sound of the net was like music from heaven.

Three-pointer!

"Hisashi Mitsui!!"

"It's MVP Hisashi Mitsui!!"

Someone recognized him and shouted excitedly.

"My god! He's actually at Shohoku?!"

"That motion is practically a work of art!"

The score instantly became 16:18.

In the blink of an eye, the gap had been cut to two points.

Miuradai's coach jumped up from the bench, his face livid. "What the hell are you doing?! Play defense!!"

Over on Ryonan's side.

Hiroaki Koshino's mouth fell open. "Th-this... is Shohoku's true strength?"

"So strong..."

"That number 7's speed, number 14's three-pointers, and number 11's finishing ability..."

"The scariest one is number 16." Hikoichi's hand trembled.

Sendoh narrowed his eyes and pointed at Lin Bei, who was slowly walking back.

"That pass just now—he didn't even look."

On the court.

Hisashi Mitsui looked at his hands, a confident smile curling across his lips.

"My touch is back."

He turned to Lin Bei and gave him a thumbs-up.

Lin Bei waved it off and glanced at the system panel.

[Stamina: 60]

Not bad. At least it was a passing grade.

It seemed his stamina training over the past while had paid off.

The game continued, and Shohoku completely controlled the pace.

Miuradai might have been physically strong.

But before Shohoku's group of "freak talents," they looked incredibly clumsy.

"Give me the ball!!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi established position in the paint and loudly called for the ball.

Miyagi took a look, flicked his wrist, and sent the ball flying into Sakuragi's hands.

"Hehehe, let me show you my genius Little Man's Layup!"

Sakuragi caught the ball, dribbled once, then charged toward the basket with stiff steps.

"Don't underestimate me!"

Murasame rotated over to help, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew the redhead was a rookie, so he played brutally rough.

The instant Sakuragi jumped, Murasame crashed into him, his hand slapping directly against Sakuragi's arm.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Sakuragi and the ball were both knocked down, and he staggered back several steps.

The referee's whistle sounded.

"Tweet—!"

"Hand-checking foul! Two free throws!"