Both teams enter the field.
Kenji Fujima walked at the front of the Shoyo team; at 178 cm tall, he appeared somewhat short on the court.
However, in Japan high schools, the height proportions are perfect.
With that almost flawless handsome face, it's no exaggeration to say he's at the pinnacle of good looks.
Even Rukawa Mikoto and Haruko in the stands blushed slightly when they saw Fujima.
In contrast, apart from Hanagata who has a touch of scholarly air, the rest of the Shoyo members are nothing short of ugly.
Immediately afterwards, Shohoku entered in single file, like white ghosts on a procession.
Gorilla, Red-Haired Monkey, Rukawa Fox, Flame Man, Physical Monster.
It doesn't look like they're playing basketball; it looks more like they're trying to destroy the opponent's Nexus.
As the two teams greeted each other near the center circle, a chorus of barely suppressed gasps erupted from the stands.
The average height of Shohoku is almost the same as that of Shoyo team known for its tall players!
"Are you kidding me? When did Shohoku get so tall?"
Apart from Hanagata and Hasegawa, everyone else in Shoyo focused their attention on White Number 15.
Mitsuru Nagano's apple bobbed, and he muttered under his breath, "The monster that Fujima described as more dangerous than Shinichi Maki?"
Shoichi Takano attempted to assess the situation.
"I'd believe it if you said he was a linebacker in football, but can he really shoot threes?"
Hanagata stared intently at Akagi, his true opponent in this match, determined to completely Akagi him on offense.
Hasegawa's gaze was fixed on Mitsui, his fists clenching involuntarily.
The most direct impact came from Fujima.
The pressure I felt when facing Kawamoto on the field for the first time was real.
Especially considering how thin and frail she is.
The referee walks with the ball toward the center circle.
Akagi and Hanagata both bent over as they reached the center circle.
Uozumi curiously, "Why isn't Kawamoto jumping the ball?"
In his mind, Kawamoto's jumping ability was freakish; if he were to jump the ball with Kawamoto, he would have no chance at all.
At the Shohoku halftime mark, Kawamoto Kazuki slightly turned his head. "Give Shoyo a taste of their own medicine as planned."
The Shohoku team nodded, Sakuragi patted his chest. "Don't worry, Kawamoto- nii, watch this genius!"
"Beep--!"
The whistle blows, and the ball soars into the air.
Akagi unleashed an astonishing leap, using his fingertips to flick the ball towards the backcourt.
Kawamoto took two steps to the landing point and caught the ball steadily in his hand with one hand.
Rukawa, Sakuragi, and Mitsui had already sprinted at full speed when the whistle blew.
The goal was not to find a conventional landing spot, but rather a key strategic point on the edge of the Shoyo paint zone.
Although the Shoyo team reacted quickly, they were still taken aback by Shohoku's unconventional charge and were left behind.
Akagi used his body to block Hanagata, who was trying to catch up, Rukawa blocked Nagano's path, Mitsui stood in front of Hasegawa, and Sakuragi, through a combination of bumping and pushing, kept Takano out of the penalty area.
The entire stadium was instantly transformed into an utterly absurd scene.
Four players from Shohoku formed a human wall, blocking the entire Shoyo team from the outside, while the paint area remained empty.
Kawamoto Kazuki was left alone dribbling the ball in the backcourt.
"One against five?"
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
Sendoh's smile vanished.
Shinichi Maki sat up straight.
Taoka and Takato also frowned.
How arrogant!
Four people sprinting at full speed, just to create the ultimate one-on-one environment?
Fujima stood a step beyond the three-point line, his heart pounding like a drum.
Cold beads of sweat slid down his temples.
He watched Kawamoto slowly dribble towards him, his tall figure casting an imposing shadow under the stadium lights.
No way?
Is it going to knock me flying?
Like Tsukubu?
The thought flashed through my mind uncontrollably.
Almost instinctively, his gaze shifted downwards, quickly glancing at the rather sturdy-looking basketball shoes on Kawamoto's feet.
However, Kawamoto did not sprint.
The moment his foot touched the edge of the midfield.
Kawamoto suddenly changed his dribbling rhythm, gently pulling the ball to the side and back with his left hand, and then he jumped up.
Instead of a conventional jump for a shot, he suddenly exerted force with his arm to push the ball out.
The moment the basketball left their hands, at least half the people in the stands stood up.
"A half-court shot?"
"Are you crazy?! The first attack is here?"
"It's impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
The basketball, spinning at high speed, traced a long parabola.
Everyone's necks began to rotate in sync with the orange-red sphere.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely along its flight path.
The four players from Shohoku, who were positioning themselves, simultaneously turned to face the basket and bent their knees to gather strength the moment the ball left Kawamoto's fingers.
Their eyes weren't following the ball in the air, but were fixed on the possible landing areas of the rim and backboard.
This isn't some strange celebration; it's the execution of a tactical plan.
Is it to grab the offensive rebound?
Fujima's mind went blank; he could only look up at that incredible ball.
This was completely beyond anything he had predicted before the match.
The ball began to fall towards the basket.
Just as it was about to touch the front edge of the rim—
"Drink it!"
The four players in the paint zone of Shohoku suddenly jumped up!
Four arms are raised high, reaching out from four directions towards the falling basketball.
Like four loyal guards, they were about to use their own bodies to form the final barrier to ensure it entered the basket.
"Whoosh--!"
The crystal-clear sound of the net piercing through the net resonated throughout the suddenly silent arena.
Goal!
Hollow entry into the net.
3:0.
Kawamoto let out a soft breath.
Only Fujima, who was closest to him, could see that Kawamoto's right fingertip twitched slightly.
At this distance, even Kawamoto could only be confident of getting the ball onto the rim or backboard.
Thankfully, I managed to get lucky.
The tactical objective has been achieved.
To intimidate the opponent to the extreme.
The four Akagi who landed under the basket looked at each other, all seeing the same shock in each other's eyes.
Did that ball really go in?
We were actually planning to grab the rebound and launch a second attack.
Regardless, the opening three-pointer was a perfect success.
However, just as this joy was still fermenting in the hearts of the Shohoku team...
Nagano had already caught the basketball that had fallen to the ground and thrown it out.
The basketball flies straight to the frontcourt!
"Back up and defend!!!"
Akagi's roar exploded.
But it was too late.
The entire Shoyo team had already rushed towards Shohoku's half of the court before Nagano served the ball.
Did Shohoku send us a super long-range three-pointer that seemed to fly out of nowhere?
I, Shoyo, will return the favor with a lightning-fast, blitzkrieg-like attack in the next second!
Kawamoto was the first to react, but two fists are no match for four legs, especially eight legs.
Faced with four players rushing towards him at the same time, he could only block Fujima's offensive route while he was controlling the ball.
Fujima held the ball, showing no fear in the face of Kawamoto's tackle, and didn't even slow down.
Just before the two were about to make contact, he delivered a delicate behind-the-back pass, narrowly sending the ball past Kawamoto's side.
"Pretty!"
In the stands, Shinichi Maki couldn't help but let out a low shout.
There, Toru Hanagata had already arrived on horseback.
After receiving the ball, immediately bend your knees and jump, then gently flick the ball with your wrist.
The basketball went straight into the basket.
3:2.
From Shohoku's goal to Shoyo's quick serve, from Fujima's brilliant pass to Hanagata's score.
The entire process was fluid and efficient, with both sides delivering fatal blows.
Fujima silently returned to defense, and as he passed by Kawamoto, their eyes met for a fleeting moment.
Kawamoto watched the composed figures of the Shoyo players quickly retreating and setting up their defense, and his heart was filled with unprecedented excitement.
Basketball is more interesting when it's a head-to-head battle where neither side gives an inch.
The competition has only just begun.