Hanamichi Sakuragi's face flushed red with anger.
His swollen pride felt as though it had been ruthlessly stomped on.
"Damn it... I've got to think of something!"
By now, Hanamichi Sakuragi was completely immersed in his own basketball world.
Aside from Shirasawa, this was the first time anyone had made him feel so frustrated and helpless at basketball.
After all, he usually practiced behind closed doors, and at most, he only got to pick on Yohei and the others...
Sakuragi panted, trying to calm himself as everything Shirasawa had taught him flashed through his mind.
Spread your arms, lower your center of gravity, keep your feet moving, and concentrate.
You can use a little body contact when appropriate.
Anticipate your opponent's next move, just like in a fight.
Shirasawa's words surfaced one after another.
He put them into practice as he thought.
Watching from the sidelines, Shirasawa's lips curved slightly.
Only in this state of intense concentration would Hanamichi Sakuragi truly enter "basketball mode."
Skills, in the end, had to be honed in actual games.
Today, he had to make this kid evolve again!
Facing Sakuragi's increasingly aggressive defense, Takenori Akagi did not rush to put the ball on the floor this time.
His instincts told him that if he recklessly started dribbling now, this redheaded kid might well drive him into a corner.
This guy... did he only just start taking this seriously?
His movements and his whole bearing are like a different person's!
But this makes it interesting.
A rare hint of excitement actually appeared on Takenori Akagi's dark face.
His longtime teammate Kiminobu Kogure caught that subtle change from the sidelines.
Kogure paused, then understood.
Akagi... he's taken a bit of a liking to him!
Hopefully, this redheaded kid can keep surprising us.
If he's a good fit, the basketball team will have another formidable player!
Holding the ball in both hands, Takenori Akagi made several jab steps to either side.
Sakuragi was still inexperienced, and a fake sent his weight shifting the wrong way.
Akagi seized the opening, broke through his defense, and charged inside, leaping in stride!
Just as he thought the basket was guaranteed, a sudden chill ran down his back.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, whom he had beaten, had already lunged back at him.
The speed of his leap and the height he reached were completely beyond Akagi's expectations.
If Akagi was a passenger jet slowly taking off, Sakuragi was a helicopter shooting straight up!
The two collided solidly in midair.
Akagi was secretly shocked by Sakuragi's strength through contact and his body control-he had intended to dunk, but the collision actually knocked him somewhat off balance.
Though strictly speaking, Sakuragi had already committed a foul.
Akagi adjusted on the fly, flicking his large hand to scoop the ball into the basket early.
After landing, he stumbled two steps before steadying himself.
Sakuragi, meanwhile, still looked unwilling to accept it, pounding his chest and stamping his feet.
"So close! I was so close! That sneaky gorilla!"
A trace of appreciation flashed through Takenori Akagi's eyes, but he snorted. "You've still got a long way to go."
By the time Haruko Akagi hurried over, the one-on-one game was nearing its end.
When she saw that the boy standing in front of her brother had red hair, her anxious heart finally settled.
"Thank goodness... it isn't Shirasawa."
Looking more closely at her brother's expression, she saw that he was not furious as everyone had claimed.
Instead, he seemed... a little excited?
Haruko could not help feeling puzzled.
This redheaded first-year can actually get my brother this excited?
Is he... really good?
On the court, Takenori Akagi had reached game point.
For the final basket, he still chose the safest approach.
He created half a body's worth of space with a jab step, seized the opening to power his way inside, and went to lay the ball gently into the hoop.
Everything went smoothly, but just as Takenori Akagi prepared to rise and shoot-
Hanamichi Sakuragi suddenly made a defensive move that drew gasps from everyone!
With his astonishing agility, he practically erected a human wall in front of Akagi.
Takenori Akagi's mouth fell open in astonishment, his vision filled with Sakuragi bouncing up and down.
His movements were as fast as a rapidly spinning gear.
He had never seen this kind of defense before!
In that moment of distraction, Hanamichi Sakuragi snatched the ball right out of his hands.
On this possession, Sakuragi had finally managed to stop Akagi.
Cheers immediately rang out around the court.
A comeback against the odds was always more exciting.
Hanamichi Sakuragi smiled too, his confidence fully restored.
"Gorilla, now it's this genius's turn to attack!"
Akagi smiled faintly, looking forward a little more to what this unpredictable fellow would do.
On the sidelines, Shirasawa shook his head with a wry smile. He had almost forgotten that Sakuragi had this move...
Meanwhile, Haruko seemed like a different person, her face filled with delighted surprise.
"He's amazing!"
"If he could join the Shohoku Basketball Team too..."
Hanamichi Sakuragi got his first offensive possession of the entire game.
He steadied his breathing, began dribbling securely, and even held his off hand out in front of him with proper form to protect the ball.
Akagi silently praised him. His fundamentals are pretty solid.
Sakuragi suddenly lowered his body and drove hard with the ball.
But Akagi had already read his route, blocking him completely with his broad, powerful body.
One collision sent Sakuragi back again.
Still, he kept firm control of the ball.
Shirasawa nodded in satisfaction-it looked like his training over the break had not been wasted.
Hanamichi Sakuragi's gaze sharpened, and he raced around the court with the ball.
But Akagi was like a moving wall, standing in his way wherever he went.
Sakuragi gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly. Damn it! This gorilla is even harder to deal with than Xiao Bai. He's too big. I can't find an opening!
Akagi smiled smugly and taunted him:
"Come on! Get past me if you can!"
"Score this basket, and you win."
Growing even more anxious, Sakuragi ducked his head and forced his way a few steps inside through the contact, then pulled straight up for a shot!
Takenori Akagi swatted the ball down solidly, as though swatting a fly.
Sakuragi spun back and recovered the ball, utterly infuriated at being unable to make any headway.
I can't unleash my genius dunk unless I get close to the basket.
But this gorilla is like a wall I can't escape!
There's absolutely no room to get through!
Damn it!
How am I supposed to get under the basket?!
Shirasawa suddenly took a step onto the court.
Sakuragi caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye.
Shirasawa raised one finger and pointed toward the backboard, then silently stepped back into the crowd.
Xiao Bai...?
An idea flashed through Hanamichi Sakuragi's mind.
The corners of his mouth immediately lifted in confidence.
So that's it.
Just you wait, gorilla!
"The redhead's out of options now, right? Captain Akagi is ruthless. He won't give him a single opening."
"With that build, I'd probably have been knocked to pieces by now!"
"I think Sakuragi's done for on this possession. There's no way he can score against Akagi."
"Man... why aren't they fighting yet... Go on, Sakuragi!"
The spectators on the sidelines chattered away. On the whole, they had already given up hope for Sakuragi's offense.
Not because he was weak, but because his opponent was simply too strong!
Shirasawa alone wore the expression of someone waiting for a good show to begin.
Hanamichi Sakuragi dribbled, his eyes blazing.
That inexplicable confidence made even Akagi focus harder.
He was wondering how Sakuragi would respond-
Sakuragi suddenly moved!
Beyond the three-point line, he abruptly gathered the ball.
Akagi's pupils contracted.
A three-pointer?
He hurriedly lunged forward!
But Hanamichi Sakuragi assumed a strange shooting stance.
Throw!
The next second, he hurled the ball hard with one hand!
Not just Takenori Akagi, but everyone watching was baffled by this bewildering move.
After releasing the ball, Hanamichi Sakuragi smiled to himself.
Then he shot past Akagi like an arrow loosed from its bow!
Akagi was startled.
Could this guy be...?!
He had no time to think it through and turned to give chase!
About two steps past the free-throw line, Hanamichi Sakuragi jumped with all his strength!
At the same time, the basketball struck the backboard squarely and rebounded at high speed.
Only then did everyone understand what Hanamichi Sakuragi intended to do.
He was actually going for a self alley-oop dunk!
My God!
You can actually do that?!
Amateurs watched the spectacle; experts saw the skill.
Watching Sakuragi soar into the air, Takenori Akagi knew how difficult this move was.
Without elite physical ability and reflexes, it would be utterly impossible!
This Sakuragi has every gift a basketball player could ask for!
It all happened in a flash.
Admiration was one thing, but Akagi did not want to lose to a first-year in front of everyone.
After all, this kid's mouth... was just begging for it!
Akagi abruptly strode forward. Although he could not jump as high as Sakuragi, he still used his body to forcibly block his path. But Sakuragi was completely in the zone now, with nothing but the hoop in his eyes. He caught the rebounding ball, gritted his teeth, and collided with Akagi in midair. Unexpectedly, this time it was Akagi who came off worse!
Akagi's eyes widened, and he could only watch as Sakuragi slammed the ball into the hoop.
The ball went through in a one-handed dunk, then smashed into the floor and bounced high. Akagi landed unsteadily and staggered backward two steps, only stopping when his back hit the basket support. Sakuragi released the rim and landed firmly on the floor.
The entire basket structure shook, whether from the force of the dunk or Akagi crashing into it.
The sidelines fell silent for an instant, then erupted in deafening cheers.
"Whoa! That dunk was insane!"
"That Sakuragi guy is actually this good?"
"Even the captain couldn't stop him!"
"Beautiful! I've never seen a dunk that explosive!"
Haruko Akagi bit her lip, her eyes brimming with excitement. This was the first time she had seen anyone dunk over her brother, and the sight was so stunning. That boy named Hanamichi Sakuragi had outrageously powerful physical gifts. And with Shirasawa, who had defeated Kaede Rukawa earlier... the Shohoku Basketball Team really had hope this time!
Brother, your dream might really come true.
Amid the cheers, Sakuragi himself seemed to finally come back to his senses. He looked down at the hand he had just dunked with, scarcely able to believe it.
"I did it!"
"I pulled off a genius dunk!"
His first reaction was not to celebrate, but to immediately turn and look for Shirasawa. Without Shirasawa's reminder just now, he would never have thought of that move. Calling that basket an assist from Shirasawa would not be an exaggeration at all.