If the captain gets stuck on a single point like Fukuda did before, then this game, and even the national tournament, will be in jeopardy.
And Uozumi, despite his fierce appearance, is actually quite thoughtful and very kind to his teammates.
He was strict during training, but after training, he would often bring everyone a delicious meal from his family restaurant.
Seeing everyone enjoying their meal made him happier than anyone else.
He was also extremely protective of his own. If anyone on the field dared to argue with someone from Ryonan, Uozumi would be the first to step in. He would stand there with his big frame, making it very clear: If you want to mess with my people, you'll have to get past me first.
Therefore, in terms of the role of captain alone, Uozumi may have done a better job than Akagi, adding a lot more humanity.
No one in the team dared to challenge him; even Kaede Rukawa, who was usually so icy, was somewhat melted by his warmth.
That's why everyone is so concerned about him right now, but they don't know how to bring it up.
Finally, Coach Taoka broke the silence.
" Uozumi, how are you feeling?"
All eyes turned to him.
Uozumi ripped the towel off his head and actually smiled.
Don't look at me like that, I don't need comforting.
His reaction surprised everyone, but it was a good thing.
And it doesn't look like it's just forcing itself to stay upright.
Uozumi shook his head and sighed, "To be honest, it's no wonder I'm not in a good mood after losing to Akagi here."
"But if you think I'll be discouraged by this, you're sorely mistaken."
"Your captain isn't going to give up so easily."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, especially Coach Taoka.
The key point is not how many points we lose.
"Well done, Uozumi! You're the pillar of Ryonan! A win for the team is a true win!"
Uozumi nodded.
"The coach is right, individual wins and losses don't matter when it comes to the team."
"So what if Akagi beat me? Our goal is to win the match!"
" Fuku, you too, you have to learn to accept failure in order to become stronger."
Fukuda nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite. He didn't have Uozumi's mindset, but the captain's composure was indeed a wake-up call for him.
Coach Taoka rallied.
"Alright! We have one last attack in the first half, let's score this goal!"
"The second half is where the real battle will be decided!"
"Yes!"
The timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court.
54 to 46.
In theory, both sides have one more attacking opportunity in the first half.
Sendoh controlled the ball and kept the clock running until the last five seconds, then suddenly passed the ball to Kaede Rukawa on the wing.
Kaede Rukawa used several crossover swaying motions to shift Mitsui's center of gravity, causing him to lean back and rise into the air.
Goal! Ryonan has held firm on their final attack.
Shohoku has 14 seconds left.
54 to 48.
Shohoku launched their final attack of the first half.
Shirasawa advanced with the ball, drawing cheers and boos from the sidelines, each almost equal in number.
This scene is quite rare in Kanagawa.
Even Shinichi Maki, who had dominated the area for over two years, was rarely booed like this while playing; even if he was, it was only by a very small number of people.
But Shirasawa is different; today, the number of fans from Shohoku and Ryonan in the stands is roughly equal.
After all, both of these teams are aiming for the national championships.
The boos from the Ryonan fans were deafening, but Shirasawa seemed oblivious, even sporting a slight smile. Sanae was the same, as if the noise was nobody else's business.
Yayoi Aida couldn't hold back any longer and leaned closer to ask, " Sanae, aren't you angry?"
Sanae casually smoothed her hair and said, "You mean the boos? Think about it another way, the more they hate you, the more they're actually afraid of you. Xiao Bai once said that fans never boo nobodies."
Upon hearing this, Yayoi Aida immediately understood. It's the same thing, but it depends on how you look at it. The boos might be pressure for others, Shirasawa, they become motivation and even boost his fame. She thought to herself, these two aren't just carefree, they really know how to play the game!
On the field, Shirasawa dribbled the ball past midfield. Time was running out, and every second made the attack more difficult.
The Twin Stars immediately double-teamed, betting that Shirasawa would attack on his own this time. The two guarded the right wing tightly, 5 seconds, 4 seconds... Mitsui stepped up to set a screen, Ryonan switched defense, and Kaede Rukawa guarded Ikegami, the defensive intensity did not decrease at all.
Inside, Uozumi and blocked Akagi, confident he could prevent Akagi from receiving the ball. With 3 seconds left, Kogure waved from the open left corner, but Ikegami blocked the passing lane.
Two seconds! Shohoku bench panicked, Sakuragi shouted, " Xiao Bai is running out of time!" The Ryonan fans booed even louder, as they were about to lock down Shirasawa.
However, Shirasawa suddenly moved sideways to combine with the ball, instantly creating half a step of space. Sendoh immediately jumped up to block, but he was still a fraction too slow.
One second! Shirasawa drifted and flicked out a three-pointer, the basketball arcing through the air.
The whistle blows, time's up. Everyone's eyes are on the ball; the referee has three fingers raised, and everyone awaits the result.
Shohoku had made their previous buzzer-beaters, but this one felt like a forced shot. However, Shirasawa felt his touch was good and his movement was smooth.
Clang! The ball hit the backboard with great force, but bounced out and went straight into the net.
The referee's hand signaled the basket – the three-pointer was in!
The scoreboard flipped over with a snap: 57 to 48.
Shirasawa maintained his shooting posture until the cheers of his teammates erupted, at which point he lowered his hand. Sendoh shook his head on the opposite side; he truly had no answer to this shot unless his arm suddenly grew longer. So he had nothing to be upset about; he could only admit that Shirasawa was genuinely skilled and dared to shoot.
The Ryonan fans, who were booing enthusiastically just moments before, have fallen silent. Their moment of defeat came too quickly; they've become mere background figures once again.
Coach Anzai stood up with a smile, waiting for his players to leave the court and return to the locker room. Amidst the cheers of Shohoku supporters, Shirasawa walked to midfield and waved to his own fans.
Then, with a smile on his face, he turned around and faced the stands where the Ryonan fans were.
One person facing the angry stares of nearly a thousand people.
What does he want to do?
Everyone had the same question mark on their minds.
Shirasawa placed one hand on his chest and the other behind his back, bowing slightly in that direction like a gentleman.
This is not about repaying evil with kindness.
This is like picking up those boos and throwing them right back in their faces.
The meaning is clear: the more you boo, the more excited I get.
"Holy crap... he's so arrogant!!" In the stands, Nobunaga Kiyota pointed at the audience, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. Shirasawa's silent response was like a revelation to him. Saying nothing was far more powerful than resorting to insults! Was he really going to go all out?
Kiyota thought he used to be pretty arrogant, criticizing everyone he met. He was the one who came up with the idea of the pre-game dunk show, and if it became a trend, he, Nobunaga Kiyota, would be the originator. But he absolutely wouldn't dare to go against the home fans like that—it would truly be "I'll go even if there are thousands against me!" Putting aside the ridicule he'd face if they lost, wasn't he afraid of getting beaten up after the game?
However... Kiyota thought about it again, and realized it was damn awesome! Just watching from the sidelines was exhilarating!
Shinichi Maki chuckled helplessly beside him, "This guy's thought process is unfathomable, but he certainly has the right to do it. Whether he responds or not, Ryonan fans already consider him their mortal enemy, so he might as well just get it over with first." He paused, glancing at Kiyota and Jin, "Times have changed. None of you newcomers are easy to deal with."
Upon hearing this, Jin smiled gently. He had a sunny appearance, but his playing style was that of a cold-blooded assassin, so he quite agreed with Shirasawa's approach and even felt a little envious.
Shinichi Maki agreed with Jin's assessment of the new generation of players Shirasawa. Starting with Shirasawa, the players following behind were all rebellious and had distinct personalities. It seems that starting this year, the style of high school newcomers has completely changed. They are no longer as respectful and humble as they were when they first entered the league. Now, arrogance and swagger are the norm.
Of course, he's really capable, but that's precisely what makes him so hateful...
Jin shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, to be honest, I really wish I had been born a year later and joined your ' Generation of Extreme Evil '."
Nobunaga Kiyota was taken aback at first, then a grin spread across his face.
" Jin Shen, ' The Generation of Extreme Evil '... I like that name." His eyes gleamed. "Let's see who can ultimately rise above that name."
During halftime, both teams headed back.
There was a person standing at the entrance to the locker room.
When Hanamichi Sakuragi saw this, his heart almost skipped a beat—this was definitely the last person he wanted to see right now.
Yoko Shimamura!
Throughout the first half, Sakuragi contributed almost nothing and even got a good beating from Fukuda. How strong is Fukuda? Just look at how Xiao Bai messed him up... Although Sakuragi has now figured things out, regained his confidence, and promised never to let him down again.
But even if he figured it out, it wouldn't matter, because no one else would know!
Especially Yoko, as a spectator, she could only see the performance and the result on the field. Before he could prove himself again, Sakuragi felt he couldn't face her at all, and always felt he had let her down.
Unexpectedly, Yoko came looking for me herself...
Ayako, with a gossipy look on her face, sidled up to Sakuragi and nudged him with her elbow. "Hey, she seems pretty worried about you. You're quite the ladies' man, aren't you?"
Sakuragi stood frozen in place, unsure what to do with his hands and feet, his eyes darting around. "Aya, Ayako... I... I'm in this state, how can I possibly go over there..."
Ayako chuckled, "Idiot, you think she's here to scold you? She's obviously here to cheer you on! Your performance on the court and your relationship are two different things, I've told you so many times! Go on!"
After saying that, she shoved Sakuragi forward and then, in a rather obnoxious manner, shouted to her teammates, " Sakuragi's going to the bathroom again!"
That cover was practically useless.
Takenori Akagi is certainly not blind...
However, in his opinion, Sakuragi might indeed need some comfort right now, since he didn't know that Sakuragi had already come to his senses on his own.
He crossed his arms and snorted, "Hmph, I'll give you two minutes."
Two minutes later, Sakuragi dashed back to the rest area, his face beaming with joy; anyone could tell he was in an incredibly good mood.