“Hey, you with the bowl cut!” Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly rushed a few steps in front of Sato, hands on his hips, his voice as loud as a whistle.
Sato was about to receive the ball, startled by the shout: “Huh?”
“You’re pretty arrogant!” Sakuragi craned his neck, chin held high. “Do you think you’re amazing just because you beat Maki Shinichi from Hainan? Let me tell you, our Sendoh can take on ten Maki Shinichis!”
In the stands, Maki Shinichi, who had just picked up a drink, suddenly choked, his face instantly turning as black as a pot.
Who did I offend? How did I get dragged into this?
Sakuragi, still not satisfied, took half a step closer, his voice rising by another octave: “Our Gu Jin can take on twenty Maki Shinichis!”
Sendoh on the court twitched his lips and silently turned his face away—this way of praising someone was truly hard to stomach.
“And I, the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi, can take on thirty Maki Shinichis!” Sakuragi proudly lifted his head, almost shouting into Sato’s ear.
Beep—!
The referee’s whistle suddenly blew. He frowned and pointed at Sakuragi: “Ryonan’s number 10, technical foul!”
“Huh? Technical foul?” Sakuragi instantly bristled, jumping three feet high. “Why? They were all talking, why only call it on me? We can’t talk while playing basketball?!”
Taoka Moichi on the sidelines covered his forehead, his helplessness showing through his fingers—talking was fine, trash talk was also allowed, but who blocks an opponent and then shouts in their face? This was clearly intentional interference!
Uozumi strode over, lowering his voice to yell: “Sakuragi! Quickly raise your hand to the referee!”
Sendoh followed closely, nodding slightly to the referee, his tone sincere: “I’m sorry, Referee, he’s only been playing basketball for less than three months, and he doesn’t understand many rules yet. It really wasn’t intentional, please be lenient.”
Sato stood by, watching the flustered Sakuragi, then glanced at Sendoh, who was trying to smooth things over. The anger that Gu Jin had sparked in him earlier was somehow dissipated by this farce, leaving only a sense of exasperation—this Ryonan Team was truly full of hidden talents, even a rookie was so... energetic.
Laughter from the stands surged like a tide, even Ryokufu’s fans couldn’t help but be amused—who would bring such negative attention to their own team?
Many people pointed at Sakuragi, whispering to each other, their eyes full of the implication, “This kid must be here to be funny.”
Fujii Ran, however, clutched her cheering stick and leaned forward, nudging Akagi Haruko beside her, her eyes sparkling: “Haruko, look how energetic my Sakuragi is! He dares to challenge his opponent directly, how amazing!”
Haruko’s smile stiffened, and she unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, only able to awkwardly purse her lips: “Ah... yes, he is very energetic.”
Matsui next to her also gave a dry laugh and secretly tugged on Fujii Ran’s sleeve—who praises someone like that? This was clearly counterproductive!
But seeing Fujii Ran’s earnest expression of “my Sakuragi is the best,” the words on her lips were swallowed back.
Sakuragi on the court was still in a daze, completely unaware of the commotion in the stands. Only the four members of the Sakuragi Legion were vigorously shaking their “Genius Sakuragi” sign, trying to support their boss, but the sign was held a bit crooked, looking more like they were adding to the chaos.
“Sakuragi, go for it, try to get ejected!” Takamiya Oh’s loud voice suddenly boomed from the stands. He vigorously shook his cheering sign, completely oblivious to the surprised looks from those around him.
Ohkusu and Noma nodded vigorously beside him, joining in the clamor: “Exactly! Let them see how amazing a genius is!”
Sakuragi, hearing this on the court, almost jumped up in anger and yelled back at the stands: “Idiots! I’m a genius! I won’t get ejected—”
The referee directly signaled Ryokufu to take the free throw.
Mitsui stood at the free-throw line, looking at Sakuragi, who was still bickering with his teammates, and couldn’t help but curve his lips. With a gentle flick of his wrist, the basketball smoothly swished into the hoop. 6:5.
Immediately followed by the second free throw, which also went in without touching the rim. 7:5.
Ryokufu Team, taking advantage of this two-free-throw-and-one-possession opportunity, regained possession of the ball.
As Sato dribbled forward, he deliberately raised his chin in Sakuragi’s direction: “Looks like your teammates are even more eager to give away points than you are.”
Sakuragi’s face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists, ready to go forward and argue, but Sendoh pulled him back.
“Don’t fall for it,” Sendoh’s voice was very low, “play good defense next.”
Sakuragi glared fiercely at Sato and finally retreated to his defensive position, but the fire in his eyes was clearly burning brighter—he had to get this back!
“Sendoh, I’m going to drive!” Sato held the ball at the top of the arc, deliberately slowing down his rhythm, his gaze sweeping over Sendoh’s stance, as if announcing the impending offensive.
Before he finished speaking, a figure suddenly burst out from the diagonal!
“Slap!”
The crisp sound of the steal was exceptionally clear in the gymnasium.
“You talk too much!” Gu Jin’s voice was cold. After the steal, without waiting for Sato to react, he was already like an arrow released from a bow, dribbling the ball towards the frontcourt.
“It’s Gu Jin’s steal!” The commentator’s voice suddenly rose, “So decisive! Sato’s hesitation just now gave Gu Jin an opportunity, this steal is too crucial!”
Sato stood frozen, watching Gu Jin’s back as he drove for a fast break, the sensation of the basketball being snatched away still lingering on his fingertips—in that instant, Gu Jin’s hand was like precise pliers, perfectly slotting into the gap in his dribble, the timing flawlessly executed.
Taoka Moichi on the sidelines suddenly stood up: “Good steal! Fast break!”
When Gu Jin rushed under the basket, Ryokufu’s retreating players had just crossed half-court. He didn’t hesitate at all, leaping up for a powerful dunk, slamming the ball fiercely into the hoop!
“Bang!” The hoop let out a dull thud.
7:7.
As Gu Jin landed, he deliberately looked back at Sato, the sharpness in his eyes like a drawn sword.
“Bastard!” Sato growled through clenched teeth, a vein throbbing in his temple. That steal earlier was like a slap, hitting him hard in the face.
Ryokufu prepared to inbound the ball from the baseline. Mike had just passed the ball when Gu Jin’s voice suddenly boomed: “Don’t retreat! Full-court press!”
The Ryonan players froze for half a second, then their eyes sharpened, and they instantly pounced on their respective defensive assignments—Uozumi stuck to Na Takamitsu, and even the usually leisurely Sendoh quickened his pace, tightly guarding Sato.
In terms of stamina, this Ryonan Team had never feared anyone.
“Full-court man-to-man?” Sato, unable to move due to Sendoh’s tight defense, spoke with irritation, “You’re really bold, but can you guys stop me?”
He suddenly made a back cut, using Na Takamitsu’s screen to shake off Sendoh, and reached out to receive a pass from his teammate.
“Slap!”
Another crisp sound! Gu Jin, as if anticipating his route, suddenly burst out from diagonally behind him, stealing the ball again!
“It’s Gu Jin again! Two consecutive steals against Sato!” The commentator’s voice was trembling.
Gu Jin dribbled straight to the basket. Mike Okita frantically retreated on defense, leaping up to block: “You won’t dunk!”
“Just you?” Gu Jin’s eyes sharpened, and his body suddenly rose, his head almost level with the rim. He slammed the ball in fiercely, right into Mike’s block!
“Bang!” The hoop shook violently.
“Beep—!” The whistle blew, and the referee pointed at Mike: “Green number 13, defensive foul, two points count, plus one free throw!”
At this point, the scoreboard showed 9:7.
Gu Jin took a deep breath, stood steadily at the free-throw line, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, the basketball swished into the net.
10:7.
The Ryonan bench erupted in cheers. Taoka Moichi forcefully pumped his fist, and Sakuragi even jumped up, pounding his chest and roaring: “Gu Jin! Well done!”
Sato stood still, looking at Gu Jin’s steady back, feeling a sense of difficulty for the first time—this man’s defense was more troublesome than he had imagined.
In the stands, Karazawa Kazuo of Fukazawa Sports University suddenly sat up straight, his hand, which had been resting on the railing, unconsciously clenched, his eyes fixed on the figure who had just finished his free throw on the court.
“Sugiyama, look!”
Shanshan Shouta followed his gaze. Gu Jin had already returned to his defensive position, his arms spread wide in a defensive stance like an airtight net, even his breathing carrying a sense of oppression.
“This kid’s defensive awareness, physical talent, and the decisiveness during that fast break just now...” Karazawa Kazuo’s voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement, “In the Japanese high school world, I’m willing to call this Gu Jin the strongest!”
Sugiyama nodded quickly, “Two consecutive steals against Sato, a fast-break dunk with a foul, his defensive coverage is too amazing... definitely top-tier.”
Karazawa Kazuo, however, shook his head, his gaze carrying a deeper scrutiny: “It’s more than just that.
Look at his aura when he commanded the full-court press earlier, and his stability during the free throw—this is no longer just ‘strong,’ it’s the kind that carries dominance.”
Gu Jin on the court seemed to sense something, inadvertently glancing at the stands, his gaze meeting Karazawa Kazuo’s, then he turned his head back expressionlessly, re-engaging in defense.
Karazawa Kazuo’s lips curved into a smile: “Interesting, very interesting...”