This was the price!
Forcing his way into ZONE placed an enormous strain on his body.
It pushed his explosiveness and coordination to their limits, as though a portion of his vitality had been drained away in an instant.
"Kudo! Are you all right?" Takenori Akagi, who was closest to him, noticed something was wrong and immediately ran over to steady him, asking with concern.
"I'm fine." Ryota Kudo took a deep breath and forced down his physical discomfort. He lowered the hand covering his mouth, gave Takenori Akagi a somewhat pale smile, and shook his head.
"Just a little drained." He could not let his teammates notice anything, much less his opponents.
Lifting his head, Ryota Kudo met Dai Moroboshi's searching, shocked gaze, which also burned with a fierce fighting spirit.
The corners of Ryota Kudo's mouth slowly curved into a sharp, cold smile. His eyes seemed to declare silently: Your weapon is mine now.
Dai Moroboshi's expression darkened completely. Without another word, he turned and ran back into the backcourt, his gaze more solemn and focused than ever.
Only at this moment did the game truly reach a fever pitch.
"Tweet! Aiwa Academy calls a timeout!"
After the brief timeout, play resumed.
Shohoku High School adjusted its lineup. Hisashi Mitsui came on for Satoru Kakuta, and Ryota Kudo moved to power forward.
Still looking grim, Dai Moroboshi took the initiative to inbound from the baseline. He silently passed the ball to Tazawa, then turned and ran toward the frontcourt, every step he planted on the floor carrying a steely resolve.
Every Aiwa Academy player felt the chilling intensity radiating from their cornerstone. They stood straighter and attacked faster, like a taut bowstring poised to release.
"Stay sharp! The game's only just begun!" Takenori Akagi's roar erupted