The game ends early

Dribbling steadily across half court, Ryota Kudo stopped at the edge of the three-point line.

He glanced at Yasuharu Yasuda, who was guarding him, even as Yasuda stretched out his arms and put everything into his defense.

But with a height difference of over twenty centimeters between them, his defense actually had no effect on Ryota Kudo at all.

After a hard pound dribble, Ryota Kudo stopped abruptly and leaped high for a pull-up three. Swish! The ball went cleanly through the net.

"Nice shot!" The Newcomer Team's substitutes applauded from the sidelines, cheering for Ryota Kudo.

This sort of stop-and-pop three-pointer did not look difficult, but in Japanese high school basketball of this era, it was still an uncommon offensive move.

Ryota Kudo and the others had already gotten back on defense, but Kiminobu Kogure of the Senior Team walked over to Takenori Akagi and asked with some uncertainty.

"Akagi... did you notice how Kudo's three-pointer just now looked a lot like someone's? I felt like I saw a shadow of him."

Takenori Akagi nodded too, a complicated expression on his face. The person they were talking about was Hisashi Mitsui, who had disappeared from Shohoku's basketball team three years ago.

Both Ryota Kudo's shooting form and the arc of that three-pointer had been very close to Hisashi Mitsui's. Both gave people the feeling that the shot would definitely go in the instant it left their hands.

In fact, Ryota Kudo's three-pointer looked even better, because his release was clearly much faster than Hisashi Mitsui's.

The game continued, and the ten-minute first half soon ended. The score was 28-22, with the Newcomer Team taking a six-point lead into the second half.

And that was with Ryota Kudo not even going all out. He had simply linked the team's offense together, and with Kaede Rukawa's unstoppable isolation play added in, they had already completely suppressed the Senior Team.

Sitting on the sidelines to rest, Takenori Akagi was drenched in sweat from exhaustion, a white towel draped over his head as he panted heavily.

Kiminobu Kogure sat beside Akagi and said with delighted surprise, "Akagi, Kudo and Kaede Rukawa really are strong!

"With them joining us, we really have a chance to make nationals and contend for the championship this year!"

Only after panting for quite a while did Takenori Akagi recover a little strength. He replied in a weary voice, "Of course I'm happy to have teammates like them.

"But we absolutely can't give up on this game. We have to show them our resolve as veteran players!"

The halftime break was five minutes, and it soon ended. Both sides were just about to return to the court when the gym doors opened.

The plump, fair-skinned Coach Anzai walked in. He glanced at the scoreboard above the court, then smiled kindly.

"Go on with your game. Don't mind me."

"Coach Anzai." Takenori Akagi and the other players all held Coach Anzai in great respect. He hurried forward and helped Coach Anzai take a seat beside the court.

Remembering that the Senior Team was still behind, Takenori Akagi lowered his head in shame and apologized. "I'm sorry, Coach Anzai. We've let you down..."

Coach Anzai smiled and patted Takenori Akagi's shoulder. "Ho ho ho ho, don't put so much pressure on yourself. Aren't the players standing opposite you your future teammates too? Believe in yourself, Akagi. You've always done very well."

With just that one remark, Takenori Akagi's fighting spirit immediately soared again. Coach Anzai really was extremely good at encouraging his players.

As a high school basketball coach who had once played for the national team, Coach Anzai held a very high standing. Everyone present bowed respectfully to him.

Only Ryota Kudo merely nodded to Coach Anzai. His impression of the coach was a mixture of fondness and anger.

What Ryota Kudo liked was Coach Anzai's endearing appearance, along with how he had inspired many players and earned their deep respect.

What angered him was that Coach Anzai had cost Hisashi Mitsui several of his most precious years of basketball.

After all, Hisashi Mitsui had joined Shohoku entirely because of Coach Anzai. Yet after an injury forced him to leave basketball, Coach Anzai had actually never checked on him again.

Given Coach Anzai's place in Hisashi Mitsui's heart, perhaps a single word would have been enough to bring Hisashi Mitsui back to the basketball team earlier.

Still, everyone had their own concerns. Coach Anzai surely had his own considerations, and Ryota Kudo only needed to maintain a neutral attitude toward him.

The second half began, with the Newcomer Team taking the first possession.

Ryota Kudo dribbled across half court and glanced at his teammates' positions. Seeing no good opportunities, he began driving to the basket himself.

One between-the-legs dribble immediately sent Yasuharu Yasuda stumbling. Without even needing to accelerate, Ryota Kudo leisurely drove into the middle.

Kiminobu Kogure hurried over from the side to help defend. Ryota Kudo did not even try to evade him, using his strong body to lean against Kogure as he continued forward, driving all the way into the paint.

Jumping off one foot, Ryota Kudo prepared to finish the possession with an easy three-step layup.

But Takenori Akagi, who had long been waiting in the paint, charged over with a dark expression. He jumped with all his strength, swinging his broad palm at the basketball in Ryota Kudo's hand.

Having already anticipated Takenori Akagi's move, however, Ryota Kudo instantly changed his layup motion and passed the ball into the Newcomer Team center's hands from an unexpected angle.

The unguarded center easily laid the ball into the basket and shouted, "Nice pass!"

Without even unleashing any astonishing speed, Ryota Kudo had single-handedly broken through the Senior Team's defense using only his body and changes of rhythm.

Takenori Akagi and Kiminobu Kogure stood beneath the basket, helplessness written all over their faces. Ryota Kudo's play had crushed their confidence.

Coach Anzai had seen it most clearly from the sidelines. His eyes instantly lit up, because he had found another outstanding basketball prospect.

But just a second later, Coach Anzai's eyes returned to their usual laid-back look.

When he had first become a coach, Coach Anzai had been terrifyingly strict. His peers had called him the "White-haired Demon."

Back then, Coach Anzai had also discovered an excellent basketball prospect. His name was Ryuji Yazawa.

Coach Anzai had always wanted to train him into Japan's best basketball player, but Ryuji Yazawa had eventually been unable to endure the high-intensity training. He had fled to America and ultimately died in a foreign land.

That was also why Coach Anzai had become so laid-back now.

"Heh heh heh, let's end today's game here. Everyone, gather around. I have something to tell you."

Knowing that continuing the game would only hurt Takenori Akagi's confidence, Coach Anzai decisively called a halt.

The game ended early, and everyone lined up in two rows again.

This time, Kaede Rukawa still stood beside Ryota Kudo, but the fierce fighting spirit in his eyes had given way to a little hesitation.

Because, through the game just now, Kaede Rukawa's instincts had told him that this boy named Ryota Kudo was currently much stronger than he was, and he most likely could not win.

Still, even knowing that he was probably no match for Ryota Kudo, Kaede Rukawa decided to challenge him after practice ended.

Even if he lost, Kaede Rukawa wanted to see the gap between them, then surpass him as quickly as possible.