"Didn't Takenori Akagi teach you how to respect your seniors, first-year? How about I teach you a lesson in his place!"
Mikoshiba pulled rank as a third-year, giving Ryota Kudo a provocative look.
Not wanting to keep trading barbs with Mikoshiba, Ryota Kudo suddenly accelerated without a word, trying to break through his defense.
Still focused on talking trash, Mikoshiba hadn't even reacted before Ryota Kudo blew past him.
Charging into the paint, Ryota Kudo no longer cared whether this was a friendly. He leaped high, his body drawn taut like a bow, and delivered a tomahawk dunk to open the game in commanding fashion.
"So cool..." A girl had just walked into the gym, arriving just in time to see Ryota Kudo dunk. She could barely contain herself.
Two rather meek-looking boys followed behind her, one carrying a video camera on his shoulder.
That boy asked cautiously, "Mari, should we start filming now?"
Only then did Mari Kawai snap out of it. She coughed before answering loudly, "Film! If we're not filming, what did we come all this way for?"
Mari Kawai wasn't just a reporter for the journalism club. She was also Ayako Inoue's sworn rival, and the two had never gotten along.
Sitting on the bench, Ayako Inoue noticed Mari Kawai and tapped her forehead with her hand, feeling a headache coming on.
Mari Kawai was no different, letting out a contemptuous snort at Ayako Inoue.
What happened off the court wasn't all that important, but Ryota Kudo and the others were now being filmed the entire time.
Although this could raise the Shohoku Team's profile, it could also very well expose Shohoku's weaknesses.
The game continued on the court. Having conceded a basket, Mikoshiba angrily received a pass from his teammate.
Mikoshiba didn't consider that last