"He's so good!" Even the usually taciturn Kazushi Hasegawa could not help blurting it out.
As a defensive specialist, Kazushi Hasegawa had plenty of authority on the subject of defense.
Personally, the opponents Kazushi Hasegawa feared most were players like Ryota Kudo.
Not only did he have elite isolation skills, but he also had excellent court vision and would pass as soon as he spotted a teammate in a good position.
Compared to isolation maniacs who never passed, opponents like this were the hardest to guard.
Even the ever-confident Toru Hanagata looked troubled. He turned hesitantly to Kenji Fujima and asked,
"Fujima, can we really stop an opponent like him?"
Unlike his somewhat worried teammates, Kenji Fujima still wore a very confident expression.
Kenji Fujima's personality was nothing like his baby face. He was no coward.
Facing such an outstanding opponent did not frighten Kenji Fujima; instead, it sparked a boundless desire to compete.
"We won't know whether we can beat them until we've played them!
Hanagata, Hasegawa, come with me to meet the Shohoku players in a bit."
With Ryota Kudo and Hanamichi Sakuragi joining in, Takahata High School completely lost the ability to fight back.
The final score stood at 123-51. Compared to the previous two teams, Takahata High School was still considerably stronger.
After the game, Ryota Kudo shouldered his backpack and headed out of the gym, with Hisashi Mitsui and Hanamichi Sakuragi beside him.
Having put up 8 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks that day, Hanamichi Sakuragi was riding high, bouncing around in front of Hisashi Mitsui.
"Hahaha, wasn't this genius amazing today?
Mitchy, you didn't get a single minute on the court today, did you? This genius is still better! Hahaha..."
Watching Hanamichi Sakuragi bounce around, Hisashi Mitsui could not help sniping at him.
"You idiot, you only played well because Kudo kept looking out for you.
Besides, every time you get on the court, you foul out in less than twenty minutes. Do you know what everyone's calling you now?
The idiot foul king!"
"Huh?! Mitchy, you're asking for it!" His eyes shining with a terrifying red light, Hanamichi Sakuragi knocked Hisashi Mitsui to the ground with a headbutt.
Ryota Kudo could only shake his head at their antics, for no reason other than that Hisashi Mitsui was utterly terrible at fighting. He had no idea how Mitsui had become the leader of a gang of delinquents.
He could not beat Kaede Rukawa or Hanamichi Sakuragi, and even when he brought a group to gang up on Ryota Miyagi, Miyagi still knocked out two of his front teeth.
All Ryota Kudo could say was that Hisashi Mitsui must have used superpowers. Otherwise, how could so many followers willingly keep following him?
Not far from the gym, Ryota Kudo spotted the waiting trio from Shohoku High School up ahead.
Seeing Ryota Kudo and the others, Kenji Fujima took the initiative to approach and hold out a hand.
"Hello, I'm Kenji Fujima, captain of the Shohoku High School basketball team. Could I have a moment of your time?"
Looking at this legendary figure from Slam Dunk, Ryota Kudo was naturally excited. He reached out and shook Kenji Fujima's hand.
"Ryota Kudo, Shohoku High School. I've heard a lot about you, Fujima."
Kenji Fujima was famous not only for his exceptional basketball skills; his outstanding looks were also one of the reasons many fans liked him.
Up close, Kenji Fujima really did have excellent skin. It was milky white, not at all what one would expect from an athlete.
Ryota Kudo had always thought his own skin was good enough. Only after meeting Kenji Fujima that day did he learn what skin that even girls would envy looked like.
As he walked and chatted with Kenji Fujima, Ryota Kudo learned that they had been waiting there because they actually wanted to play a three-on-three game ahead of time.
Ryota Kudo asked Hisashi Mitsui for his opinion, and he readily agreed.
As for Hanamichi Sakuragi, whether it was basketball or a fight, he was willing.
Having agreed to a friendly match, they headed toward a nearby outdoor basketball court.
Unlike the friendly atmosphere between Ryota Kudo and Kenji Fujima, Hisashi Mitsui and Kazushi Hasegawa, who stood beside him, could not stand the sight of each other.
Hisashi Mitsui had noticed that the stone-faced guy beside him kept glaring at him with murderous eyes, as though he wanted revenge.
Finally unable to take it anymore, Hisashi Mitsui frowned and demanded loudly, "Hey! Why do you keep glaring at me? Do you want a fight?"
Looking at Mitsui, Kazushi Hasegawa declared confidently, his expression cold,
"Hisashi Mitsui, I'm not the same person I was in middle school. Today, I'll make sure you don't score a single point!"
Hisashi Mitsui looked completely baffled by this, because he no longer remembered Kazushi Hasegawa.
As the MVP in middle school, Hisashi Mitsui had faced the opponents' best defensive specialists in every game.
Of course, Hisashi Mitsui had thoroughly schooled all those so-called defensive specialists. Not one of them had truly been able to stop him.
With so many opponents like that, Hisashi Mitsui naturally could not remember all those "losers."
Besides, Kazushi Hasegawa had sported a very ugly shaved head in middle school, whereas in high school, he had switched to an upright, spiky hairstyle like Akira Sendoh's.
Ryota Kudo and Kenji Fujima merely smiled at the friction between Hisashi Mitsui and Kazushi Hasegawa, acting as though they had heard nothing.
In fact, Ryota Kudo and the others knew this history even better than Hisashi Mitsui and Kazushi Hasegawa themselves, and they were looking forward to the showdown between them.
They soon reached the outdoor court, where several groups of adults were already playing.
Kenji Fujima politely asked whether they could let him use the court for ten minutes. Unexpectedly, the adults paid him no heed at all.
In the end, Toru Hanagata, Kazushi Hasegawa, and the others had to go up and teach the adults a lesson with their skills before they gained use of the court.
The three Shohoku players and the three Shoyo players took their places on the basketball court, and both sides began warming up and getting a feel for the baskets.
Ryota Kudo was undoubtedly the most excited about the upcoming match.
Ryota Kudo also knew that the players from Shohoku High School had come to gauge his abilities.
However, Ryota Kudo was not at all afraid of revealing his abilities, because he was improving every day.
Besides, watching the Shoyo trio play in person would let Ryota Kudo copy a few more practical skills.
Ryota Kudo had gained a great deal recently, and his skill repertoire contained many new abilities.
[Lightning Flash (Ryota Miyagi's driving technique, which increases explosive speed when driving)] [Gorilla Dunk (Takenori Akagi's powerful two-handed dunk, which reduces the defending player's chance of successfully blocking the shot)]
There were many more besides these, and the least practical of them was Gorilla Dunk.
Although imposing, it really was ugly, and Ryota Kudo had no desire to use it at all.
"Let's get started. Kudo, you can check the ball first."
Kenji Fujima tossed the ball over. Unlike his earlier pretty-boy appearance, he radiated presence once he stepped onto the court.
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