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Toho Kotei Gakuen serves.
Kugawa, unusually, calls for the ball.
Having been provoked like this, he felt he had to retaliate.
As a fellow three-point shooter, he had his own pride.
Thump...thump...thud...
He dribbled the basketball repeatedly, his eyes sharply fixed ahead.
His aura grew stronger with each dribble.
As Kugawa drew closer, Reo Mibuchi's expression turned serious, and he quickly stepped in front of him.
The two paused briefly at the center line.
Thump...thump...thump...
The sound of the basketball hitting the ground grew heavier.
To Reo Mibuchi's ears, it sounded like the heartbeat of a beast.
The moment the heartbeat stopped would be the moment the opponent lunged at him.
Thump...thump...
The sound of the basketball hitting the ground suddenly paused for a moment.
Reo Mibuchi's eyes narrowed.
Now!
Kugawa's figure flashed, initiating his attack.
While he wasn't particularly fast, the speed he could unleash was unparalleled.
The instant Kugawa moved, Reo Mibuchi followed suit.
His speed was equally impressive, blocking Kugawa's path with a single step.
Kugawa shifted direction and switched hands again.
Just as he was about to break through, Reo Mibuchi once more blocked his way.
He quickly took a half-step back, praising him.
"Truly worthy of being called one of the 'Five Uncrowned Generals,' you certainly have some skill."
Reo Mibuchi grinned in response.
"We're evenly matched."
Kugawa's mind raced, considering his next attack route.
Reo Mibuchi was also anticipating his opponent's movements.
The two were calculating against each other, and an eerie atmosphere began to permeate their surroundings.
Soon, Kugawa and Reo Mibuchi engaged in a thrilling offensive and defensive battle.
While this scene lacked the dazzling intensity of the duel between Ryu and Aomine, the audience was still thrilled, cheering continuously.
Kugawa, facing Reo Mibuchi's defense, finally reached Rakuzan's three-point line.
Suddenly.
Kugawa changed direction, followed by a long stride, creating a body length gap between himself and Reo Mibuchi.
Reo Mibuchi's eyes flashed, and he immediately stepped forward to block.
However, Kugawa's hand holding the ball had already lifted it and tossed it towards Rakuzan's basket.
Seeing this, Reo Mibuchi's heart sank.
He never expected Kugawa to suddenly shoot.
He had been carefully guarding against his opponent's one-handed shooting ability.
A moment's inattention allowed the opponent to seize an opening.
The basketball bounced off the backboard and then fell into the basket.
7-3.
Reo Mibuchi scoffed, quickly regaining his composure, ready to retaliate.
Transition.
Reo Mibuchi dribbled the ball to the Toho Kotei Gakuen's half of the court.
He didn't hesitate.
After a few exchanges with Kugawa, he once again unleashed a fadeaway jump shot, also known as: the Heavenly Shot.
The basketball soared high into the air, descending towards the Toho Kotei Gakuen's basket.
Swish…
The basketball went in.
7-6.
In the following time…
Kugawa and Reo Mibuchi engaged in a thrilling three-point shootout, going toe-to-toe with each other.
The two consistently found opportunities to score over each other.
The score fluctuated throughout their duel.
After Kugawa sank another three-pointer,
the score reached 19-15.
Just when everyone thought the first quarter would end with the two continuing their battle,
something unexpected happened.
Reo Mibuchi, under Kugawa's defense, reached the three-point line of the Toho Kotei Gakuen.
His movement suddenly paused, then he bent his knees and raised the ball with both hands.
'Another fadeaway jumper, let's see if I can stop you this time.'
Kugawa seized the opportunity and leaped into the air.
However, at that moment...
He was surprised to find that Reo Mibuchi was only holding the basketball; his feet hadn't even left the ground.
His pupils contracted, and a bad premonition immediately arose.
And indeed, it was.
A playful glint appeared in Mibuchi Reo's eyes, followed by a slight upturn of his lips.
Mibuchi Reo jumped a step slower than Kugawa, her body colliding directly with her opponent.
'Damn it.'
Kugawa reluctantly allowed him to be hit.
Whistle...
The referee's whistle blew.
Mibuchi Reo also released the basketball.
The basketball landed precisely in Toho Kotei Gakuen's basket.
Swish...
19 to 18.
Just then.
The referee's voice rang out.
"Yellow number 3, defensive foul, the ball goes in, one free throw."
Kugawa gritted his teeth, glaring angrily at Mibuchi Reo.
Mibuchi Reo winked at Kugawa, then said...
"Watch out!"
Hearing the opponent's taunts,
Kugawa's face darkened, but he didn't show much emotion.
Seeing this,
Reo Mibuchi was taken aback.
'As expected of a team that fought its way to the finals, their mental fortitude is truly strong!'
Trying to disrupt their composure with words was probably futile.
Thinking this, he raised his hand and took a free throw.
The basketball swished through the net again.
19-19.
Beep…
The referee blew the whistle to end the first quarter.
Both teams remained silent.
As if the first quarter had nothing to do with them.
Many spectators seemed to have a strange feeling.
It felt like they had watched the previous game before, yet also like they hadn't.
"Hey! Aominecchi, don't you think the game is a bit too calm?"
In the stands.
Kise asked Aomine.
"I think they're testing each other," Aomine replied, looking at the two teams below.
"Midorima, what do you think?"
Midorima adjusted his glasses and then said.
"It's probably like you said, but Ryu and Akashi won't stay silent like this. They'll likely make their move in the second quarter."
...
Rakuzan's rest area.
Rakuzan's basketball team coach, Shirogane Eiji, was giving a speech.
"The game is going smoothly so far. The plan remains unchanged. The details of the game are yours. If any adjustments are needed, follow Akashi's instructions."
"Yes..."
The Rakuzan players responded in unison.
Reo Mibuchi took a sip of water, then turned to look at Kugawa in the Toho Kotei Gakuen rest area.
'What just happened? I clearly fooled him, but he still managed to move.'
He recalled using the Earth Shot, just as his body was about to collide with his opponent's.
The way Kugawa contracted his body in mid-air was still vivid in his mind.
He was certain he hadn't misread it.
Although Reo Mibuchi successfully drew a foul, he couldn't feel truly smug.
His eyes turned serious.
'That Kugawa is definitely a player who's no less skilled than me.'
Meanwhile.
In the Toho Kotei Gakuen's rest area.
"How was it, Kugawa? You were having so much fun with that guy, and you still got fouled in the end."
Kuroki Ryuichi teased.
Kugawa rolled his eyes at him and replied.
"What else can it be? It's just like what you see! Their number 6 is no pushover. He truly lives up to his title, his shooting is incredibly deceptive."
"Do you need us to set a screen for you?"
Kamimono asked.
Kugawa shook his head.
"No need, I'm enough on my own. He's strong, but still within my limits."
Kamimono nodded.
"In that case, let's keep it this way!"
Ryu silently petted Karupin on the sidelines.
He didn't join his teammates' conversation.
For the entire quarter.
Neither he nor Akashi deliberately took shots, simply letting their teammates attack and defend on their own.
'Is he waiting for me to shoot first?'
He looked up in Rakuzan's direction and saw Akashi staring in his direction as well.
Their eyes met again.
But this time, the sharpness from before the game was gone; instead, they were unusually calm.
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