Sakuragi froze on the spot.
It was as if someone had cast a binding spell on him.
He slowly turned his head, his fierce expression instantly melting into a foolish, lovestruck grin.
"Ha… Haruko-san…"
Haruko stepped closer, her tone firm and sincere.
"My brother once said—whoever controls the rebounds controls the entire game."
"For Sakuragi-kun to grab the ball among so many tall players… that's simply…"
She took a deep breath and declared loudly:
"You're the Rebound King!"
Boom!
Those three words exploded in Sakuragi Hanamichi's mind like a nuclear blast.
Steam practically burst from his head as he transformed into a bright red, overpressurized steam engine.
"Re… Rebound King?!"
His nostrils flared, his breathing quickened, his face flushed as red as a monkey's backside.
"I'm… the Rebound King?"
"Haruko-san said I'm the Rebound King?!"
"That's right!"
"Sakuragi-kun is Shohoku's savior!" Haruko encouraged him further.
"WAHAHAHAHA!!"
"Did you hear that?! This genius is the Rebound King!!"
"That substitute Makino Juro! And that dead-fish-eyed fox Rukawa! Both of you step aside for this genius!"
Sakuragi stood with hands on his hips, laughing wildly toward the sky, his voice so loud it seemed to shake dust from the ceiling.
Watching Sakuragi instantly revive—no, enter a full berserk state—Makino Juro sighed and leaned back onto the bench.
"Alright then…"
He twisted open his water bottle and took a sip, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Since our 'secret weapon' is fully charged… I guess I can slack off a bit longer."
…
"Beep!"
The second half began.
Shohoku ball.
Miyagi Ryota brought the ball past half court, immediately sensing the shift in atmosphere.
That red-haired guy… was furiously fighting for position in the paint.
"Pass me the ball!!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted, using his hips to shove against Hanagata Toru while raising his hand.
Hanagata adjusted his glasses, frowning deeply.
This guy… how did his strength suddenly increase so much?
In the first half, Sakuragi had impressive physical talent, but his positioning was amateurish.
Now?
He was like a rampaging bull—completely unreasonable, forcing his way into space with brute strength alone.
Miyagi didn't pass to Sakuragi. Instead, he swung the ball to Akagi.
Akagi caught it, turned, and released a hook shot.
Clang!
The ball bounced off the rim.
"Mine!!"
Before Shohoku's opponents could react, a red figure had already launched into the air.
Too fast!
Just as Hanagata prepared to jump, his vision darkened—
Sakuragi Hanamichi was already above him.
Stretching out midair, Sakuragi clamped the ball with both hands like iron pincers.
He landed—and jumped again.
This time, instead of forcing a shot, he kicked the ball out to Miyagi on the perimeter.
Miyagi reset the offense and fed it back inside.
Akagi didn't waste the chance this time—he rose up and slammed it home!
24:31
"Nice play!!"
Before the cheers could fade, Shoyo launched another attack.
Itou Taku's outside shot missed.
"Rebound!"
Hanagata Toru, Takano Shoichi, and Nagano Mitsuru all leapt simultaneously.
This was Shoyo's pride—the "Green Wall."
But within that forest of green, a streak of red stood out like fire.
Sakuragi Hanamichi timed his jump perfectly, his thigh muscles coiling before exploding with raw power.
"Haah!!"
He moved later than the others—yet arrived first, snatching the ball right over all three of them!
"What?!"
Hanagata landed, staring at his empty hands in disbelief.
This kid's takeoff speed… how is it this fast?
And his second jump… he's a monster!
In the stands.
Coach Taoka from Ryonan gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"As expected…"
"That rebound at the end of the first half—it wasn't luck."
"That Sakuragi Hanamichi… his talent has fully awakened."
His voice was dry.
"For a team like Shoyo that relies on height… a relentless rebounder like him is a nightmare."
"Because of that rebound, Shohoku's momentum… has completely changed."
The situation on the court flipped in an instant.
With Sakuragi wreaking havoc in the paint, Shohoku's shooters gained confidence.
Mitsui Hisashi hit a three.
Rukawa Kaede scored on a pull-up jumper.
Miyagi Ryota stole the ball and finished a fast-break layup.
Meanwhile, Shoyo grew hesitant—losing defensive rebounds made their offense unstable.
The score rapidly closed in.
28:31.
30:33.
And when the scoreboard read 34:35—
The entire arena was on the verge of exploding.
"Just one point behind!!"
"Shohoku is insane!"
"That red-haired number 10—how many rebounds has he grabbed?!"
"Eight? Ten?!"
On the sidelines.
Fujima Kenji sat on the bench, his expression growing increasingly serious.
At some point, his arms had already dropped from their folded position.
"Hanagata…"
he murmured softly.
On the court.
Akagi patted Sakuragi's shoulder, his face stern.
"Sakuragi! Listen carefully!"
"We must secure this possession!"
"The one who dominates the rebounds… dominates the game!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi was in a state of extreme exhilaration.
The moment he heard the words "dominate," his nostrils flared even wider.
"Leave it to this genius, Gorilla!"
Shoyo offense.
Nagano Mitsuru (#7) received the ball, but under Rukawa's suffocating defense, his confidence wavered.
Damn it… why does it feel like Shohoku is everywhere?
In a rush, he forced a shot.
The form was off. The power was lacking.
"Short!"
The ball struck the front rim.
"Rebound!!"
Hanagata Toru gritted his teeth and leapt with all his might.
This time, I won't let you take it!
He secured position firmly, while Takano boxed out Akagi.
Just as he thought the rebound was guaranteed—
"WAAAHHH!!"
A bizarre yell came from behind.
Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Despite completely losing position—
Used his incredible core strength to glide midair, forcibly covering extra distance.
Then..
That massive hand reached past Akagi's head, past Hanagata's fingertips.
And before everyone's eyes—
Snatched the ball one-handed into his grasp!
"What?!"
Hanagata was utterly stunned.
In the stands, Haruko gasped, covering her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.
"A-amazing… Sakuragi-kun!"
Coach Anzai adjusted his glasses, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.
He turned to Makino Juro beside him.
"Did you see that?"
"Sakuragi-kun's talent for rebounding… is beginning to reveal itself."
"He's an unpolished gem… and now, he's finally starting to shine."
Juro glanced at the red-haired idiot basking in his own glory on the court.
He smiled faintly as well.
"Yeah, yeah… shining alright."
"Blindingly bright, in fact."