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Beep…
The break time is over.
The referee blows the whistle to start the second quarter.
Both teams' players take to the court.
Since the Toho Kotei Gakuen team had possession of the ball in the first quarter,
Rakuzan naturally gets to play in the second quarter.
Thump… thump… thump…
Akashi dribbles the basketball, walking forward unhurriedly.
Just as he crosses the center line, Hanafuji blocks his way.
The basketball in Akashi's hands is perfectly still.
His eyes are indifferent yet authoritative.
'The captain of the Generation of Miracles, huh? Let me see what you're capable of!'
Hanafuji thinks to himself.
However, Akashi's actions leave him somewhat bewildered.
Akashi doesn't seem to intend to drive at all; he calmly passes the ball out.
'Pass?'
Hanafuji is completely unsure of Akashi's next move.
This leaves him feeling utterly lost.
The basketball landed in Reo Mibuchi's hands.
He immediately took action.
Despite Kugawa's obstruction, he, just like in the first half, focused on the opponent's defense and moved to the three-point line.
He raised the ball, aimed, and shot.
'Another fadeaway jumper.'
Realizing the opponent's movement, Kugawa immediately moved, preparing to block Reo Mibuchi's shot.
However, Reo Mibuchi seemed to have planned this, and didn't jump immediately.
Seeing this,
Kugawa's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening.
'Oh no…he wouldn't be thinking of…'
Remembering the foul he'd been tricked into committing earlier, he immediately adjusted his body's orientation.
Seeing Kugawa forcefully adjust his body's orientation in mid-air,
Reo Mibuchi's gaze flickered slightly, but surprise aside, he still had to shoot when necessary.
"You can't do that, you can't dodge it."
Reo Mibuchi grinned mischievously, then leaped forward, pushing off the ground.
Damn it…
Looking at Reo Mibuchi charging towards him.
He knew he couldn't dodge it.
'Is I going to foul again…'
Kugawa thought angrily.
Suddenly.
A shadow obscured Reo Mibuchi's face.
Startled.
Reo Mibuchi's pupils contracted, and a look of horror appeared on his face.
A hand mercilessly swept towards the basketball in Reo Mibuchi's hand.
Thud…
A dull thud echoed throughout the arena, making the hearts of the surrounding spectators jump.
Recovering from their shock.
Reo Mibuchi looked at the figure behind Kugawa.
'Ryu?'
Kugawa turned around as well.
Seeing a familiar face, he smiled at him.
"Thanks."
"It's nothing. Be careful, watch the height he reaches when he's charging up."
Ryu's words were calm.
But to Kugawa, they were extremely pleasing.
'Watch the height he reaches when he's charging up…'
He murmured to himself.
Upon hearing Ryu's words, Reo Mibuchi's face turned a deep shade of purple.
'My Earth Shot...did he see through it? How is that possible?'
This was only the second time he had used the Earth Shot in this game.
His opponent had found a way to counter it in such a short time.
'What a terrifying opponent.'
He looked at Ryu not far away, thinking to himself.
The basketball went out of bounds.
Rakuzan serves.
The basketball comes into Chihiro Mayuzumi's hands.
The others don't pay much attention to him.
But Ryu noticed him from the very beginning.
'This is Chihiro Mayuzumi, who has the same abilities as Kuroko. Physically, he's definitely stronger than Kuroko, but that's about it.'
This isn't Ryu belittling him; it's just the truth.
Kuroko has something he can't compare to.
Experience, insight, observation, skill… all of these are things that this imposter Chihiro Mayuzumi can't match.
However…
Ryu narrows his eyes.
At this moment, Chihiro Mayuzumi is facing off against Kuroki Ryuichi.
The two are locked in a fierce battle, one attacking and the other defending.
'To be able to hold his own against Kuroki for so long, this guy has considerable strength.'
Recalling the original story, Chihiro Mayuzumi also successfully entered the fake Zone.
This shows that his own strength shouldn't be underestimated.
He had at least reached the level of the "Uncrowned Five," albeit the weakest of the initial stages.
Chihiro Mayuzumi attacked from both sides, but couldn't break through Kuroki Ryuichi's defense.
Kuroki Ryuichi's strength was significantly greater than his.
If he hadn't deliberately concealed his aura, Kuroki Ryuichi would have been able to detect his presence.
Seeing that he couldn't break through, Chihiro Mayuzumi finally chose to pass the ball, somewhat unwillingly.
He passed the ball to Kotaro Hayama.
Kotaro Hayama's heart tightened.
The pressure he felt facing Ryu was immense.
However, as a genius among the few strong individuals, he still possessed his own pride.
Suddenly, veins bulged on his palm, and his five fingers slapped the basketball repeatedly.
The sound was deafening, like crackling electricity.
Sizzle... sizzle...
Seeing Kotaro Hayama's movements, Ryu raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, Thunder Dribble, huh? It's been a while! Let me see your current strength!"
Hearing Ryu's words,
Kotaro Hayama was speechless, unable to refute.
He exhaled a long breath, his eyes sharp as an eagle's as he stared at Ryu.
His aura began to gather, gradually forming the shape of a cheetah.
Huh…
Ryu looked at Kotaro Hayama before him.
'Wildness, huh?'
Bang…bang…bang…
Sizzle…
A bolt of yellow lightning flashed.
Kotaro Hayama, carrying his full aura, swept past Ryu.
"He actually broke through?"
In the stands.
Kagami Taiga said in surprise.
"No, he didn't break through."
Kuroko's words had barely finished.
Suddenly, on the court, Ryu took a step back, effortlessly catching up with Kotaro Hayama, who had already come up behind him.
No fancy moves whatsoever.
Ryu simply raised his hand and hooked the ball away from Kotaro Hayama's hands.
Seeing this,
the entire stands fell silent for a few seconds.
The movement, the composure, it was as if this was the only way to steal the ball.
A few seconds later.
A burst of excited shouts erupted from the stands.
Kotaro Hayama was completely stunned.
He stared blankly at his empty hands, utterly bewildered.
Without giving his opponent time to react,
Ryu dribbled directly towards Rakuzan's basket.
The loud thuds snapped Rakuzan's team back to their senses, and they scrambled to defend.
However, Ryu's speed was too fast to catch up with in a short time.
When Ryu reached Rakuzan's three-point line,
Kotaro Hayama, relying on his raw power, finally blocked his path immediately.
Seeing Kotaro Hayama reappear before him, Ryu showed no surprise.
His calm gaze sent a chill down Kotaro Hayama's spine.
The next second, that chill came true.
Ryu stopped at the three-point line, raised the ball, and aimed.
'Damn it.'
Kotaro Hayama was shocked and rushed forward, but it was too late.
Ryu had already released the ball.
[Zero-Type Three-Pointer].
The basketball flew over Kotaro Hayama's head, struck Rakuzan's backboard directly, and then bounced precisely onto the rim of the hoop.
Glug...glug...glug...
The basketball rolled on the rim for nine seconds before finally falling into the basket.
22 to 19.
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