Chapter Fifty-Five: Ryonan VS Kainan
"Jin, did you know that guy earlier?"
After warmups ended, walking toward the bench, Muto asked Jin beside him casually.
"Yeah, we were teammates in middle school." Jin nodded, gaze toward Ryonan's direction, tone peaceful. "He joined the basketball team as a second-year—very late start. Complete beginner back then."
He paused, continuing: "However, his improvement speed was incredibly shocking. Almost visibly transforming before our eyes. But after he entered high school, I don't really know his situation."
"Looking now, feels like his transformation exceeded my expectations a bit."
"Speaking of transformation, probably nobody's more dramatic than you, right?" Muto laughed, patting his shoulder. "From interior center to becoming Kanagawa's premier scoring king."
"Jin, today let him witness your transformation properly!"
"Of course." Jin's mouth curved into a gentle yet supremely confident smile.
"TWEET—!"
"Kainan University Affiliated High School versus Ryonan High School officially begins!"
Both teams' players walked toward center circle, preparing for the jump ball.
Ryonan's starting lineup: point guard Yagami Sorato, shooting guard Koshino Hiroaki, small forward Sendoh Akira, power forward Fukuda Kicchou, center Uozumi Jun.
Kainan's starting lineup: point guard Maki Shinichi, six feet and 174 pounds; shooting guard Jin Soichiro, six-foot-two and 156 pounds; small forward Kiyota Nobunaga, five-foot-ten and 143 pounds; power forward Muto Masaru, six feet and 165 pounds; center Takasago Kazuma, six-foot-three and 176 pounds.
Ryonan players' height matchups were completely different from facing Shoyo. This time, except for Jin's height advantage over Koshino, every other position featured taller Ryonan players.
"Uozumi-senpai." Yagami called to Uozumi, quickly whispering a few words.
Not far away, Sendoh caught part of the content. His eyes flashed with understanding, the corner of his mouth involuntarily rising slightly. He knew it—with Yagami's personality, how could he refuse showing off?
So this was the setup.
"Tweet!"
As the whistle sounded, the referee tossed the ball vertically skyward.
"Thud!"
"Smack!"
Both teams' centers jumped simultaneously. Uozumi, with absolute height advantage, touched the ball first, precisely tapping it toward Kainan's half.
Almost the same instant as the jump ball, Yagami charged toward Kainan's basket. He jumped slightly to catch Uozumi's tapped pass, dribbled just once to adjust rhythm, then rose with one step—no hesitation.
"Not happening!"
A low shout came from behind him. Maki, starting later yet arriving first, leaped with full force from the diagonal rear. His powerful frame carried undeniable pressure, directly swatting at Yagami.
"Such incredible explosiveness..." Exclamations came from the stands.
Despite Yagami's height advantage, Maki's vertical speed and blocking angle perfectly compensated for that gap. That big hand was about to touch the ball.
Press down!
"Worthy of Maki-senpai."
Maki was surprised to discover this first-year showed no panic after being caught!
"However—"
Yagami switched the ball from right hand to left mid-air, avoiding Maki's blocking range, his wrist pressing—
"BOOM!"
He violently hammered the basketball through the rim!
"Already guessed you'd catch up." After landing, Yagami turned to face Maki, tone extremely calm. "As champions, this level should be achievable."
Ryonan 2 - Kainan 0
"WOOOOO!!!"
"Yagami! Amazing!!"
"YAGAMI! YAGAMI!"
Ryonan's first possession made the venue atmosphere restless.
"Maki, Kainan's era has passed!" Uozumi roared loudly at halfcourt. "Kanagawa's champion throne—Ryonan will take over!"
"Isn't that Coach's line from earlier?" Aida muttered from the sideline.
"Uozumi learned really fast." Ikegami also wanted to shout such words at Kainan.
"Just you?" After Yagami scored before his eyes, Maki's expression remained unchanged.
"It's our Sendoh and Yagami!"
Uozumi's voice was extremely loud. Whether players on court or spectators at the sidelines, all attention focused on Yagami and Sendoh.
"Really puts me in a difficult spot~" Sendoh showed a polite smile.
Yagami had already retreated to center circle position, facing Kainan's players: "Come on, senpais. It's time to arrange your farewell ceremony."
"Heh, this arrogant brat!"
Offensive transition. Kainan's offense.
Maki steadily dribbled across halfcourt. What somewhat surprised him was that the defender standing before him was actually the first-year who'd just scored—Yagami Sorato.
"What?" Kainan's coach Takato slightly raised his brow, his fan lightly tapping as his gaze turned to opposing Coach Taoka. "Taoka, you actually trust this recruit so much, having him single-cover Maki?"
"Not Sendoh—am I being underestimated?" Maki looked at Yagami's defensive stance, couldn't help muttering.
As if seeing through Maki's thoughts, Yagami said: "First get past me, old man."
"Wh-what?"
Maki's expression suddenly froze. Just now he'd clearly heard this recruit call him "Maki-senpai," yet now suddenly...
"Uozumi's the one with the old face!" Maki said with serious expression.
"Maki!" Uozumi under the basket stared at him furiously.
At this moment, Maki passed the ball forward left, lowering his center of gravity and suddenly accelerating. Yagami reacted extremely quickly, immediately following, firmly blocking before him.
"Not bad. Attention very focused."
Maki said seriously. After several probing dribble drives, he gradually shed his dismissive attitude.
Yagami's defensive footwork was solid. His wingspan advantage was obvious facing Maki, and his instincts were sharp, consistently blocking breakthrough lanes almost imperceptibly, making it temporarily difficult to find suitable offensive opportunities.
"Worthy of the recruit who defeated Shoyo." Maki praised inwardly.
He began focusing on teammates' movement. With eight seconds remaining on the shot clock, he found an opportunity passing to cutting Kiyota from the wing.
"Leave it to me!"
After catching, Kiyota accelerated through, passing helping Fukuda in one step. But before shooting, Sendoh appeared ghost-like beside him, long arm reaching to nearly steal the ball.
"Didn't I just shake him?!"
Kiyota broke into a cold sweat. At the critical moment, Jin quickly stepped forward to receive.
"Jin!" Before getting trapped, Kiyota hurriedly passed out.
Jin caught beyond the three-point line, faking a shot. Koshino bit on the fake. Jin drove inside.
Simultaneously, Maki cut from the arc.
Jin passed out. Yagami again intercepted Maki.
Only the basketball didn't stay with Maki. After catching, he used his powerful body to forcibly press Yagami one step toward the interior, forcibly creating slight space.
Then his wrist flicked—the basketball returned to open Jin's hands.
Jin caught, bent his knees, jumped, shot.
The basketball traced a beautiful arc, crisply piercing the net.
Three-pointer, good!
Ryonan 2 - Kainan 3
Kainan quickly responded with a three-pointer!
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