Chapter Seventy-Five: The White-Haired Devil
Down 20 points!
Most players in the arena—Kaijo's team who'd faced Shohoku, every spectator present—everyone shared the same thought.
"The game's already decided!"
"Score a basket!!" Kogure Kiminobu shouted desperately from the sideline, almost pleading. "Just score one basket first!!"
Miyagi Ryota had barely crossed halfcourt when Yagami Sorato closed on defense.
"Dammit!"
Feeling Yagami Sorato's oppressive pressure, Miyagi Ryota found his body inexplicably exhausted. Every dribble required more effort than usual. Even his movements seemed sluggish.
"Only the second quarter?" Irritation surged through Miyagi Ryota's heart. "Bastard, feels like I've played an entire game already..."
He looked up toward teammates. Akagi Takenori battled for position with Uozumi Jun. Rukawa Kaede tangled with Sendoh Akira. Mitsui Hisashi cut constantly seeking space but Ikegami Ryoji shadowed relentlessly.
Ryonan's defensive formation was airtight—not a single opening.
"Dammit!" Miyagi Ryota cursed under his breath again.
The instant his vision wandered—
"PAP!"
Yagami Sorato's right hand flashed out, precisely stripping the ball from Miyagi Ryota!
"MIYAGI!"
Amid his teammates' alarmed shouts, Miyagi Ryota snapped back to awareness, chasing purely on instinct.
Vaguely, he almost hoped Yagami Sorato would charge for a dunk inside.
However, Yagami Sorato stopped beyond the arc.
"DON'T GO IN—!"
"Swish!"
The crisp net sound shattered Miyagi Ryota's final hope.
Yagami Sorato calmly lowered his shooting form. Transition three—good!
The seventh!!!
Ryonan 42 - Shohoku 19
"TWEET!"
"Shohoku requests timeout."
"You're all overthinking, which makes your movements sluggish." Coach Anzai addressed his players. "Is it Yagami's three-pointers? Have you already accepted defeat in your hearts?"
Shohoku's players sat on the bench, gazes vacant, gasping for breath. Though they could hear Coach Anzai speaking, their brains couldn't process the meaning.
"You haven't shown even half the ability you displayed against Kaijo. Is it because this is your first finals appearance?"
"I remember Shohoku isn't a team that chokes under pressure."
The players remained silent, lost in private thoughts and... what came after this game ended.
"CAN'T YOU HEAR ME TALKING?!!"
"?!!"
The teammates' heads snapped up. For an instant, the aura emanating from Coach Anzai resembled a demon.
"If you give up now, the game is effectively over." Coach Anzai reverted to his usual gentle demeanor. "This game—we still have hope of winning."
"YES!" Light finally returned to the players' eyes as they looked seriously toward Coach Anzai.
"Akagi, temporarily stop forcing shots inside. Give all paint offense to Sakuragi."
"Old Man! You finally recognize this ultimate weapon's power?" Sakuragi Hanamichi said emotionally.
"Shut up, Sakuragi!" Akagi Takenori's fist hammered Sakuragi Hanamichi's head. He looked questioningly toward Coach Anzai. "Sensei, will this really work?"
"No. But if Sakuragi can accomplish it, we'll have a chance to turn defeat into victory."
"!!!"
Every Shohoku player looked toward Sakuragi Hanamichi. No one expected Coach Anzai to value him so highly—that this game's key rested on Sakuragi Hanamichi.
"I..." For the first time, Sakuragi Hanamichi's expression turned grave.
He looked toward Ryonan's Uozumi Jun and Fukuda Kicchou. Though his mouth spoke carelessly, Sakuragi Hanamichi understood their interior prowess clearly.
"Sakuragi!" Kogure Kiminobu looked at him hopefully.
"Seriously, I knew you'd need me to turn things around!" Sakuragi Hanamichi declared seriously. "Leave the paint to me!"
"TWEET!"
The timeout-ending whistle sounded. Coach Anzai adjusted his glasses, finishing final instructions to Akagi Takenori.
"Ryota!" Just before Miyagi Ryota entered, Ayako suddenly called out.
"That Yagami on the other side? Just a first-year! Don't forget—win this game, and you're Kanagawa's number one point guard!"
Miyagi Ryota turned back, flashing a confident smile. "Don't worry, Ayako. Shohoku's counterattack starts now!"
Shohoku's possession. Play resumed.
"Miyagi-senpai, you seem slightly more focused." Yagami Sorato maintained distance, eyes locked on Miyagi Ryota.
"Kid, in speed among Kanagawa point guards—I'm absolutely number one!"
Miyagi Ryota accelerated explosively right.
However—he didn't shake Yagami Sorato loose.
"This guy already learned my defensive movements from last time?" Chinatsu Kazushi watched from the stands with fascination. Yagami Sorato's growth exceeded even his expectations.
"Dammit, still can't get past him." Miyagi Ryota protected the ball.
"Miyagi!"
Mitsui Hisashi used Akagi Takenori's screen to get open. Miyagi Ryota immediately passed.
By the time Ikegami Ryoji recovered around Akagi Takenori, he was a beat late.
Mitsui Hisashi shot the three!
Sakuragi Hanamichi crashed the paint. Uozumi Jun and Fukuda Kicchou sealed him outside.
"Swish!"
Direct hit!
Ryonan 42 - Shohoku 22
"Know who you're competing with in threes, kid?!" After draining the three, Mitsui Hisashi shouted energetically toward Yagami Sorato.
However, this three hadn't disrupted Ryonan's rhythm.
After catching the ball falling through the net, Uozumi Jun quickly stepped out of bounds. His arm whipped—launching a long pass right to Sendoh Akira.
"Such a shame. Sorato predicted everything~"
Sendoh Akira shook off Rukawa Kaede's pressure with a long cross-court pass.
Yagami Sorato caught past halfcourt, immediately sprinting toward Shohoku's basket.
"What?!"
"This guy again—!"
Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi startled before giving chase at full speed, flanking Yagami Sorato's position left and right.
Near the three-point line, Yagami Sorato's speed suddenly decelerated.
"Not happening!"
Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi both planted hard, preparing to deny his shot.
"BANG!"
The basketball hammered the floor.
Yagami Sorato's center of gravity dropped sharply. One acceleration step threaded between them—the rhythm change instantly leaving both behind!
"He's not shooting the three?!"
"BOOM!"
Yagami Sorato charged into the paint, rising easily for a clean, powerful one-handed tomahawk, slamming the ball through!
Two points.
Ryonan 44 - Shohoku 22
"Knew you wouldn't give up that easily. After all, you're the 'protagonists'~" Yagami Sorato muttered softly before looking toward the two frozen beyond the arc.
"Your turn."
Shohoku's offense.
Mitsui Hisashi still used screens to get open. This time, however, Yagami Sorato directly rotated to contest.
Miyagi Ryota seized the opportunity, cutting inside. Mitsui Hisashi calmly passed out.
Uozumi Jun rotated outward to help. Miyagi Ryota fired a bounce pass to Sakuragi Hanamichi cutting from the right baseline.
"BOOM!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi slammed it home!
Ryonan 44 - Shohoku 24
"Fukuda, you lost your man again!" Ikegami Ryoji shouted loudly.
"Sorry." Fukuda Kicchou muttered.
Without the ball in Sakuragi Hanamichi's hands, he didn't know how to stop him.
Possession changed. Ryonan's offense.
After pushing past halfcourt, Sendoh Akira saw Yagami Sorato actively calling for the ball.
"So eager?"
Sendoh Akira delivered to Yagami Sorato, who merely raised the ball with a slight pump—Mitsui Hisashi bit, jumping.
Yagami Sorato drove inside. Akagi Takenori stepped up to help.
"Swish!"
Yagami Sorato's floater dropped!
Ryonan 46 - Shohoku 24
"Yagami, you should've passed that to me, right?" Uozumi Jun grumbled while retreating. "I was wide open under the basket."
"Uozumi-senpai, think carefully." Yagami Sorato posed a question. "Whether I score or you score at the rim—isn't it still two points?"
Uozumi Jun nodded but couldn't help saying, "But I was open."
"Don't rush," Yagami Sorato's voice turned persuasive. "If I'd missed, wouldn't wide-open Uozumi-senpai easily grab the board for a putback?"
"Obviously. Of course I could."
"So statistically speaking, Uozumi-senpai not only gets two points but also a rebound!" Yagami Sorato declared righteously. "Meanwhile, I'd only get a missed shot. That way, aren't I risking my stats declining to create more opportunities for you, senpai?"
"Hiss—" Uozumi Jun scratched his head with sudden realization. "Yagami! I almost wrongly accused you!"
"No worries, senpai. You know me." Yagami Sorato laughed cheerfully. "Remember how selfless I was when running the offense before."
"Of course I know!" Uozumi Jun said seriously. "Yagami, shoot freely!"
"I won't let your good intentions go to waste!"
"Right, I trust Uozumi-senpai!" Yagami Sorato responded earnestly.
"I see." Fukuda Kicchou nodded silently nearby. He'd originally thought Yagami Sorato was as "selfish" as himself.
Though something seemed off, Yagami Sorato's explanation had deeply moved Fukuda Kicchou.
"No way, that actually worked?" Sendoh Akira looked at them with a strange expression.
Shohoku's offense had already pushed past halfcourt. Ryonan's players refocused on defense.
Coach Anzai's instructions to Akagi Takenori were simple: emulate Kainan's Takasago Kazuma's approach against Ryonan.
Though Akagi Takenori couldn't balance high-post screening/facilitating and scoring like Takasago Kazuma, Shohoku's other positions possessed self-creating ability. They only needed Akagi Takenori creating slight spacing.
"SWISH!"
The instant Rukawa Kaede cut off the screen, Miyagi Ryota's pass arrived perfectly in his hands.
Helping Fukuda Kicchou got shaken easily by Rukawa Kaede's spin. Uozumi Jun raised both arms—the final barrier.
Rukawa Kaede stepped on the free-throw line for a mid-range fadeaway.
"Swish!"
The basketball traced a high arc, splashing cleanly through!
Ryonan 46 - Shohoku 26
Shohoku's offense finally normalized, scoring consecutively.
"Coach Anzai's adjustment is truly impressive," Coach Taoka observed from the sideline. "Most critically, despite trailing by 20, Shohoku regrouped. Everyone's focus elevated further."
"However, victory's sealed. They can't close this gap!"
Ryonan's offense—surprisingly, Yagami Sorato isolated again!
Once more using a crossover-acceleration combo to shake Mitsui Hisashi before penetrating inside for a mid-range jumper.
Ryonan 48 - Shohoku 26
"Dammit, what's wrong with Mitsui? His defense shouldn't be this easy to beat." Hasegawa Kazushi complained. As a former middle school opponent, seeing Mitsui Hisashi like this was infuriating.
"Partly, Mitsui genuinely struggles defending Yagami. But also... those threes are deeply embedded in his mind," Fujima Kenji explained. "Mitsui likely knows he can't completely shut down Yagami, so his emphasis is on defending the three—willing to let Yagami penetrate inside."
"Though logically, Yagami's drives shouldn't be this easy either..."
Shohoku's Rukawa Kaede entered offensive mode, driving for another two-point finish.
Ryonan 48 - Shohoku 28
Possession changed. Ryonan's offense.
Yagami Sorato actively called for the ball again. Sendoh Akira hesitated briefly before passing over.
After shaking Mitsui Hisashi to penetrate inside, Miyagi Ryota immediately blocked his path.
Double-team!
Wide-open Ikegami Ryoji immediately raised his hand calling for the ball.
Yagami Sorato showed no hesitation—rising for a jumper.
"What?"
"???"
"CLANG!"
The basketball clanged off the front rim. Akagi Takenori secured the board. Shohoku immediately sprinted in transition.
After crossing halfcourt, Rukawa Kaede received Akagi Takenori's long outlet. Using acceleration and a crossover to shake Sendoh Akira, he drove to the basket for a layup!
Ryonan 48 - Shohoku 30
"Beautiful, Rukawa!"
"Great trap! Great transition!"
Shohoku's bench erupted, jumping excitedly. They'd finally cut the deficit below 20.
Ryonan pushed quickly in response.
This time, Sendoh Akira ignored Yagami Sorato's call, feeding cutting Fukuda Kicchou directly.
Another two points.
Ryonan 50 - Shohoku 30
Shohoku continued feeding Rukawa Kaede. His momentum climbed with each score.
This time, before Akagi Takenori could even set the screen, Rukawa Kaede used consecutive crossovers to blow past Sendoh Akira, charging straight to the rim.
Uozumi Jun rotated to help. Rather than pass to Akagi Takenori, Rukawa Kaede rose one step inside the free-throw line!
"BOOM!"
He avoided Uozumi Jun's contest mid-air, one-handed hammer slamming it through!
Ryonan 50 - Shohoku 32
"Yagami, your turn." Rukawa Kaede beckoned toward Yagami Sorato with his finger. The latter smiled.
Sendoh Akira glanced at the scoreboard, sighing.
"Fine. Let him have his fun."
Before Yagami Sorato could call for it, Sendoh Akira passed directly after crossing halfcourt.
"Huh?"
Yagami Sorato caught the ball, momentarily stunned before his lips curved upward. Dropping low, he immediately drove.
As expected—the instant he beat Mitsui Hisashi, Miyagi Ryota trapped hard.
Without hesitation, Yagami Sorato pulled up—under their defensive pressure, passing right to wide-open Ikegami Ryoji.
"Hmm? Did I overthink it?" Seeing Yagami Sorato's pass, Sendoh Akira paused, confused.
After receiving, Ikegami Ryoji quickly adjusted for the mid-range attempt!
"HAH!" Sakuragi Hanamichi charged over, leaping to intercept.
Though his help timing was slightly late, it still startled Ikegami Ryoji.
"CLANG!"
The crisp brick sound rang out. Uozumi Jun had prepared, claiming advantageous position to overpower Akagi Takenori for the board—
"PAP!"
Just as he was about to grab the basketball, Sakuragi Hanamichi snatched it from above!
"WHAT?!"
Every player startled. Sakuragi Hanamichi's leaping ability—both speed and height—completely exceeded everyone's projections!
"Fast break!"
Miyagi Ryota and Rukawa Kaede broke simultaneously with telepathic understanding. Yagami Sorato and Sendoh Akira also gave chase immediately.
Sakuragi Hanamichi launched the outlet. The basketball found Miyagi Ryota precisely. However, the instant he caught it, Yagami Sorato pressed with tight on-ball defense.
The pressure forced Miyagi Ryota into continuous retreat. Just as he nearly traveled, his peripheral vision caught the trailing figure behind. Without hesitation, he sent the ball backward over his shoulder.
"Perfect pass!"
Mitsui Hisashi received cleanly. No pause—gather, jump, shoot.
The basketball traced a beautiful arc through air.
"Swish!"
Three-pointer good!
Ryonan 50 - Shohoku 35