In the stands.
The atmosphere was so lively it practically overflowed.
Mito Yohei was hanging over the railing, laughing so hard his whole body shook, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Hahahaha! Help… I can't!"
"Hanamichi, that blockhead…"
"He used his face as brakes and still managed to hit a critical spot—only he could come up with something like that!"
Beside him, Ohkusu Yuji was even worse, pounding the armrest like a drum.
"His expression at that exact moment—if you screenshot it, it's a world-class masterpiece!"
"And the ball just had to roll out from there—"
"Hahahaha! That's perfection! Did the god of variety shows possess him or what?!"
The Sakuragi Gang laughed so hard they were practically collapsing over each other—
completely ignoring the "are-these-guys-insane?" looks from the surrounding audience.
Right next to them, however, Akagi Haruko wore a blank, innocent expression.
She blinked her big eyes, looking at Sakuragi twisted up on the floor…
then at Yohei and the others laughing themselves to death.
A row of question marks practically popped up over her head.
"Yohei-kun… what are you guys laughing at?"
She nervously twisted her fingers, brows slightly furrowed.
"Sakuragi-kun looks like he's in so much pain… did he hit something?"
"Why is everyone laughing so hard?"
The moment she said that—
her friend Fujii, sitting beside her, instantly flushed red like a ripe tomato.
That question was way out of syllabus!
She hurriedly tugged at Haruko's sleeve, lowering her voice, dying of embarrassment:
"Haruko… don't ask."
Her eyes darted around, not daring to look at the absurd and tragic scene on the court.
"Eh?"
Haruko still didn't quite understand.
But seeing her friend's flushed face, she vaguely realized—
this probably wasn't something to discuss openly in public.
Still, seeing Sakuragi lying there for so long, her worry overpowered her confusion.
Taking a deep breath, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted toward the court:
"Sakuragi-kun!"
Her clear, sweet voice cut through the noisy arena in an instant.
"Do your best!"
That voice was like some kind of advanced healing spell.
Sakuragi Hanamichi—who had been lying there, feeling like his soul was about to leave his body—
suddenly trembled.
Like a dying fish struck by high-voltage electricity.
"H-Haruko…-san?!"
His previously rolled-back eyes snapped back to life, bursting with light.
"She's cheering for me…"
"Haruko-san is watching me!"
The next second.
before the stunned eyes of the entire crowd, a medical miracle occurred.
Sakuragi sprang up from the floor like nothing had happened.
Even though a certain unspeakable area was still throbbing faintly…
he stubbornly turned toward the stands and flashed Haruko a dazzling—if slightly twisted—smile.
Raising his right hand high, he made a big "V" sign.
"Don't worry, Haruko-san!"
"This kind of minor injury is like a mosquito bite to a genius!"
"It doesn't hurt at all!"
"This genius is fully revived!"
In the stands, Haruko let out a sigh of relief and waved back happily.
On the bench, Makino Juro clicked his tongue in amazement.
"So this is the power of… love—uh, I mean, simping?"
"Adrenaline really is the best painkiller."
He leaned lazily against the back of his seat, spinning a water bottle in his hand, his gaze never leaving the court.
It might've been a farce—
but at least their momentum hadn't been lost.
…
The game resumed.
Even though that last possession had strong "biological weapon" undertones—
Mitsui Hisashi still forced himself to pick up the ball, pinching his nose internally.
Shohoku ball.
Miyagi Ryota brought it up the court.
After that chaotic sequence, everyone's nerves had loosened a bit.
"Stay steady!"
"Let's get a bucket!"
Miyagi raised a finger, his eyes sharp as blades as he scanned the floor.
Ryonan's defensive formation had tightened considerably.
Koshino and Uekusa clung to the perimeter like glue, clearly wary of Shohoku's fast-break tempo.
"Tch, sticking close, huh…"
Miyagi tried to shake free with a quick change of direction, but Koshino reacted instantly, cutting him off.
The paint was sealed.
No opening outside.
In a flash—
Miyagi caught a glimpse of someone moving.
Mitsui!
"Take it!"
The ball sliced through the defense like a scalpel, landing perfectly in Mitsui's hands.
Catch. Adjust. Rise.
The motion was smooth and fluid—textbook form, picture-perfect.
"Got it."
The moment the ball left his fingertips, Mitsui knew—
this shot was good.
However.
just as the ball began to rise—
a massive hand suddenly appeared above it, like a dark cloud blotting out the sky.
"Don't get ahead of yourself!!"
With a thunderous roar—
Ryonan's interior beast, Uozumi Jun, exploded upward with a burst of power completely at odds with his size.
"PAH!"
A sharp crack rang out.
The ball was swatted away mercilessly—like a fly being crushed.
"LET'S GO!!!"
Ryonan's bench erupted instantly, towels whipping like helicopter blades.
"Captain Uozumi!"
"Too strong! This is Ryonan's no-fly zone!"
After landing, Uozumi snorted heavily, glaring fiercely at the Shohoku players.
The pressure he radiated—
was like that of an enraged silverback gorilla.
"Don't think you can do anything under the basket."
His voice was low, dripping with undisguised arrogance.
"This is Ryonan's territory."
"My territory."
Those words stabbed deep into the hearts of Shohoku's two inside players.
Sakuragi instantly flared up, rolling up his sleeves as he stepped forward:
"What did you just say, you monkey boss?!"
Even the usually composed Akagi Takenori had a terrifyingly dark expression now.
He stared at Uozumi, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Uozumi…"
The words were squeezed out between his teeth.
"You're still as arrogant as ever."
Their gazes collided in midair—
sparks seemed ready to fly.
It was the unmistakable tension of long-time rivals.
Gunpowder thick in the air.
…
Next possession.
Shohoku offense.
Akagi called for the ball in the low post, his raised hand like a battle flag.
Even Makino Juro on the sideline could feel that overwhelming desire to attack.
"The gorilla's getting serious now…"
Makino Juro narrowed his eyes slightly.
"But… Uozumi's in insane form today."
On the court.
Akagi backed Uozumi down.
Two giants over two meters tall clashed in the paint.
The sound of muscle colliding was heavy and thunderous—
like two tanks smashing into each other.
"Bam! Bam!"
Akagi dribbled hard, trying to push Uozumi back.
But Uozumi didn't budge—
like an immovable mountain rooted to the floor.
With a roar, Uozumi raised both arms high, completely sealing off Akagi's scoring angles—
a suffocating canopy overhead.
Akagi gritted his teeth.
Suddenly...
a spin move, a shoulder fake—
then he forced up a shot.
"Too naive!"