Offense and defense switched.
Possession returned to Ryonan.
The score, 2–2 was like a taut string, stretched tight and vibrating with tension, gripping the entire arena.
Kiyota Nobunaga's thunderous dunk had just ignited Kainan's momentum, and all eyes were now on Ryonan. Everyone wanted to see how they would respond.
Thump… thump… thump…
Akashi advanced the ball with both hands, his steps light yet explosive as he suddenly accelerated into Kainan's half. The orange ball struck the floor in rapid succession, a sharp contrast to his usual calm, deliberate tempo.
The sudden burst caught Kainan off guard.
Anyone familiar with Ryonan knew Akashi preferred to dictate the game at a measured pace. This kind of aggressive push was rare.
Shinichi Maki reacted instantly.
Lowering his center of gravity, arms spread wide, he stepped in to cut off Akashi's path.
But just as he closed the distance—
A white figure flashed in from the side.
Sendo.
The screen came fast and solid, his body locking Maki in place with perfect timing.
Pick-and-roll? Now?
Maki's eyes narrowed.
He hadn't expected Ryonan to use such a direct tactic so early—or for Sendo to be the one setting it.
Akashi didn't hesitate.
Using the opening, he pushed off hard, slipping past Maki and driving straight toward the paint.
Kainan's defense rotated instantly.
Muto Tadashi stepped in from the wing, planting his feet squarely in Akashi's path, hands raised and posture tight.
"Try me!" Muto barked, eyes locked on Akashi. "I'll block you!"
Akashi glanced at him, expression indifferent.
"…Move."
"Like hell I will!"
A faint glint flashed in Akashi's eyes.
The Emperor Eye activated.
In that instant, Muto's future movements unfolded clearly before him—every shift of weight, every instinctive reaction laid bare.
Thump. Thump.
Two sharp dribbles.
Left—then right.
The rhythm was so fast it left afterimages.
As predicted, Muto followed the first move, sliding left. His right foot lifted to recover—
Too late.
Akashi changed direction again.
Muto's balance shattered.
His ankle slipped, his lower body gave out, and his frame collapsed backward like a tower losing its foundation.
"What—?!"
His eyes widened in disbelief as his back slammed against the floor.
He couldn't understand it.
He had read Akashi perfectly—or so he thought.
Yet there he was, staring at the ceiling.
The arena froze.
Kiyota's jaw dropped.
Jin Soichiro stiffened.
Even Maki stopped mid-recovery, brows drawn tight as he stared at Akashi in disbelief.
Akashi didn't even look back.
He glided past Muto as if stepping over a puddle, his dribble steady, his expression calm, charging deeper into Kainan's territory.
"Tadashi-senpai!" Kiyota finally shouted.
He had seen that move before.
But watching a veteran like Muto fall for it so cleanly sent a chill down his spine.
That wasn't luck.
That was precision.
Akashi exploded toward the basket—
—but a shadow surged up behind him.
Maki had broken free.
In just seconds, he was on Akashi's back hip, palm rising, fingers reaching for the ball.
At the very instant Maki was about to steal—
Akashi's wrist snapped.
The ball whipped backward, slicing through the air like lightning.
Whoosh!
It landed cleanly in the hands of Koshino Hiroaki, wide open on the perimeter.
Perfect timing.
Perfect angle.
Maki's steal missed by inches.
His eyes followed the ball, narrowing.
So this is his vision…
He spun instantly, sprinting to close out.
Under the basket, Takasago Kazuma widened his stance, arms spread.
"Don't even think about it!"
Koshino felt the pressure and abandoned the three.
He drove.
Takasago shifted, bracing for impact—
—but Koshino stopped short, lifting the ball as if to shoot.
Takasago bit.
The moment he jumped, Koshino pulled the ball back, slipped past his side, and cut in cleanly.
A flawless pump fake.
Kainan's players stared.
Koshino—known for his shooting—had just shattered expectations.
He rose for the layup.
Too late to stop—
Clap!
A hand came down from behind, smashing the ball against the backboard.
The ball ricocheted away.
"What—?!"
Koshino froze mid-air.
When he landed and turned—
Kiyota Nobunaga stood there, breathing hard, eyes blazing.
"This guy…" Koshino clenched his fist.
Before he could react, Maki swept in and secured the loose ball.
"Nice block, Kiyota."
Turnover.
Offense and defense switched.
"Tch… blocked by him…" Koshino muttered, frustration etched across his face.
Sendo jogged up beside him, grinning.
"Relax. It's Kainan. That kind of thing happens."
Koshino exhaled slowly and nodded.
As Akashi retreated, his gaze lingered briefly on Kiyota.
I underestimated him… His recovery speed is impressive.
Kainan surged forward.
"Counterattack!" Takasago shouted. "Let's go!"
Maki advanced, eyes scanning the floor.
As Akashi stepped into his lane—
Snap.
A sudden pass threaded through the defense.
Muto Tadashi caught it in stride inside the paint.
No hesitation.
He leapt.
Fukuda Kiccho jumped with him, arm extended.
Mid-air, Muto adjusted—pulling the ball into one hand, flowing smoothly into a hook shot.
The ball arced just beyond Fukuda's reach.
Swish.
Ryonan 2 – Kainan 4
The crowd erupted.
"Fast exchange!"
"Both teams are going all out!"
Ryonan's turn again.
Akashi advanced slowly now, dribble steady, eyes cold and analytical.
Maki guarded him closely, muscles tense.
Kiyota hovered on the wing.
Jin Soichiro shadowed Koshino without a single opening.
Maki replayed Muto's fall again and again in his mind.
I won't fall for it.
Suddenly—
Akashi crossed.
Twice.
Same rhythm.
Same motion.
Maki braced himself, adjusting perfectly.
Nothing happened.
Just a feint?
Realization struck—
Akashi's arm snapped out.
The ball flew.
Five meters.
Impossible angle.
Koshino caught it cleanly.
Maki froze.
So decisive…
Jin Soichiro closed in immediately, sealing off the shot.
Koshino didn't rush.
A quick exchange of footwork—
Then a pass.
Sendo cut in from the wing.
The moment he received it, he exploded.
Kiyota chased, teeth clenched—
—but Sendo slipped past him in a blink.
Takasago stepped up under the rim.
Sendo jumped.
Mid-air, he twisted, tucking the ball in, slipping it beneath Takasago's arm—
A soft flick.
Swish.
Ryonan 4 – Kainan 4
The crowd roared.
Reporter's section.
Aida Yayoi's eyes sparkled as she jumped up.
"Ah—Sendo! That was amazing! That underhand scoop—so cool!"
"N-Nakamura-san—" he tried to stop her, too late.
Nearby, Kamishiro Ruri calmly jotted notes into her notebook.
Sendo and Akashi… just like middle school.
Their chemistry hasn't faded at all.