Ryota Miyagi's easy victory had put him in quite a good mood.
He was just about to press his advantage and take care of the other two first-years, who looked a little more normal.
But captain Takenori Akagi's low command rang out beside him.
"Miyagi, that's enough!"
Akagi frowned, his tone carrying unquestionable authority. "The first-year newcomers have seen what you can do. Quit while you're ahead."
"Boss Akagi, I haven't even started warming up yet."
Miyagi looked back with his usual smile. "I spent so long lying in the hospital that my bones are practically rusting. You've got to let me work up a proper sweat and loosen up, right?"
Vice-captain Kiminobu Kogure came over too, pushing up his glasses as he gently tried to persuade him.
"Miyagi, you just got out of the hospital. Your health comes first. Taking it easy is a good thing."
"Kogure, I know my own body. I'm fine."
Miyagi patted his chest, brimming with confidence. "Relax, I know my limits. I'm just playing around."
Just then, Kaede Rukawa, who had been dribbling the whole time, stopped.
He looked at neither Miyagi nor Akagi, simply carrying the basketball straight into Miyagi's half of the court.
He stopped one step inside the three-point line and tossed the ball to Miyagi.
Then he faced Miyagi, slowly bent his knees, and lowered his center of gravity into an impeccably standard defensive stance.
His gaze was cold and focused, without any extraneous emotion.
"You attack. I'll defend."
Kaede Rukawa's voice was flat, his words as brief as a machine's instructions. "Let's start."
"Heh."
Miyagi bounced the ball twice, that relaxed, slightly provocative smile returning to his face. "Sure, you cocky brat. Let your senior teach you what a real drive looks like."
He thought nothing of the expressionless first-year before him.
He was just a newcomer. How good could he possibly be?
That red-haired monkey from earlier was proof enough.
He did not even bother with a fake, launching straight from beyond the three-point line.
His right foot pushed hard off the floor, bringing him to top speed in an instant.
Like a bullet leaving the barrel, he made a simple accelerating change of direction and forced his way toward Kaede Rukawa's left side.
He would use sheer speed and explosiveness to blow cleanly past this posturing newcomer.
Yet just as their bodies were about to pass each other-
Smack!
An incredibly crisp sound rang out!
Miyagi felt his hand meet empty air. The basketball he had been dribbling was already gone.
He looked back in astonishment, his forward momentum involuntarily faltering.
Kaede Rukawa had the ball firmly under control in his left hand and was watching him expressionlessly.
Miyagi: "..."
A steal?
A first-year actually stole the ball from me that cleanly?
A brief silence fell over the sidelines too.
Hanamichi Sakuragi's mouth hung open. He even forgot to complain.
Akagi and Kogure exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.
They knew Kaede Rukawa was strong on offense, but they had not expected his defense to be so sharp even against Miyagi, who specialized in speed and driving.
"Heh... interesting."
After that brief moment of astonishment, Miyagi quickly returned to normal.
He shrugged and spread his hands, feigning ease. "I got careless just now. Your turn. Go ahead and attack. Let's see what a kid with decent defense can do on offense."
Despite his words, he had already discarded most of his contempt.
The timing, judgment, and hand speed of that steal had all been practically perfect.
This kid is no pushover.
Kaede Rukawa ignored Miyagi's attempt to save face.
Holding the ball, he silently walked beyond the three-point line.
Miyagi grew serious too, assuming a standard defensive stance.
Kaede Rukawa moved.
His initial burst was astonishingly fast, and the explosiveness of his first step made even Miyagi feel a hint of pressure.
Miyagi hurriedly slid over to cut him off, but as Kaede Rukawa drove, he used his height and reach advantage to force open a sliver of space, then stopped abruptly without hesitation and rose for the shot!
A pull-up jumper!
His movement was fluid, his rhythm distinct, and his release point high.
Miyagi leaped with all his strength to block it, but his fingertips were still some distance from the basketball.
Swish!
2-0!
Miyagi frowned. This kid isn't just tough on defense. He's this decisive on offense too?
Kaede Rukawa attacked again.
This time, he pump-faked from beyond the three-point line.
The movement was so convincing that Miyagi actually left his feet.
Kaede Rukawa took one dribble into midrange, stopped abruptly again, and sank the jumper!
4-0!
Miyagi's expression turned rather ugly.
Is this kid's shooting touch really that hot?
Kaede Rukawa remained on offense.
This time, Miyagi unleashed tremendous potential. After a prolonged tussle, he successfully knocked the ball out of Kaede Rukawa's hands as he tried for a layup.
On his turn to attack, Miyagi used his signature spin move, quick and fluid.
He finally got half a body length past Kaede Rukawa, drove to the basket, and made the layup.
4-2.
He had clawed back a little dignity.
But Kaede Rukawa remained expressionless.
His defense against Miyagi's attack stayed tough.
Unfortunately, Miyagi used the advantage of his height, dribbling extremely low to drive straight through Kaede Rukawa's defense.
He scored another layup.
4-4.
"Haha, I told you I was just careless before. You're nothing special either, though you're a little better than that red-haired monkey."
Sakuragi instantly flew into a rage. "You damn runt! Who are you calling weaker than Rukawa Fox?"
Kaede Rukawa muttered, "Idiot," ignored them both, and took up a defensive stance at the three-point line.
Miyagi used another fake. This time, Kaede Rukawa was exceptionally focused and did not bite.
Miyagi could only force a drive down one side, but Kaede Rukawa stayed firmly with him, refusing to fall behind.
Miyagi stopped abruptly and faked a jump shot. Kaede Rukawa did not bite.
"Damn it, I can't fool this bastard. Looks like I'll have to force it!"
Out of options, Miyagi could only rely on his skill and experience to force up a shot. Sure enough, the ball clanged off the rim.
Kaede Rukawa attacked.
Against Miyagi's tight defense, he shot straight from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!"
The three-pointer went in!
7-4!
"What?"
This time, Miyagi was truly stunned.
This newcomer isn't just accurate from midrange. His threes are this reliable too?
The game was over.
Kaede Rukawa 7-4 Ryota Miyagi.
Ryota Miyagi stood where he was, his mind in turmoil.
He really had been careless on that first possession.
But afterward, he had gotten serious and used seventy or eighty percent of his ability, only to remain firmly suppressed by his opponent.
This newcomer's defensive anticipation, offensive skills, and shooting consistency had all far exceeded his expectations!
This guy...
Miyagi looked at Kaede Rukawa's cold, handsome face.
Did I misjudge him?
Is this cold-faced kid actually the most terrifying of this year's first-years?
He had originally thought the red-haired monkey would be the hardest to deal with, only for him to turn out to be a raw player with explosive physical ability.
He had never expected Kaede Rukawa, who only looked a little cocky, to have such solid, well-rounded skills.
He had put Miyagi under tremendous pressure on both offense and defense.
Miyagi had actually lost, and could hardly complain about how it had happened.
The overall score was now tied at 1-1.
Miyagi took a deep breath to compose himself, then turned his gaze toward the last first-year on the sidelines whom he had yet to face.
Kawamoto Kazuki, the tall, quiet boy who had been watching silently all along.
This one...
Surely he looks like an easy target?
He's tall, but he always looks so vacant. He should be about the same level as the red-haired monkey.
Getting a win off him and recovering a little dignity as a senior shouldn't be a problem, right?
Ryota Miyagi rubbed his nose and put on that slightly provocative smile again.
He lifted his chin toward Kawamoto Kazuki. "Hey, big guy over there. You're the only one left. Come on, let your senior see whether that towering height of yours is just for show!"