When the basketball team members heard Akagi Takenori call out to Sakuragi Hanamichi to stay behind alone, they all glanced at Sakuragi Hanamichi.

It's obvious that Captain Takenori Akagi is planning to give Hanamichi Sakuragi special training.

Kogure Kiminobu nodded to Akagi Takenori, then gave Sakuragi Hanamichi a encouraging look before leaving with the others.

Akagi Takenori asked in a deep voice, "Sakuragi Hanamichi, do you feel something's strange today? Are you wondering why you can't even get a single rebound?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi nodded solemnly, staring intently at Akagi Takenori, eager to know the answer.

Takenori Akagi slapped the basketball in his hand and said, "Come on! Let's try it again under the basket."

After the two reached the backboard, Takenori Akagi held up the ball with one hand and said, "I'll smash the ball against the backboard, and we'll see who can grab it. Don't worry, I'll smash it high, and the ball won't fall down so quickly."

Sakuragi Hanamichi nodded and immediately entered battle mode.

The basketball was thrown from Akagi Takenori's hands, hit the backboard high up, and then bounced down.

The instant Akagi threw the ball, Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately began to use his body to fight against Akagi and block his position.

When the ball bounces to a certain height, the two jump at the same time!

With a "smack"!

It's still Takenori Akagi!

Sakuragi Hanamichi was completely dumbfounded!

That's going too far!

In terms of jumping ability, I, the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi, am second to none. In terms of physical strength, I am a monster! I don't know fatigue or pain; I have the brute strength of a wild beast.

I should be the invincible man under the basket!

How could we possibly lose to a gorilla?

What exactly went wrong?

Sakuragi Hanamichi stared intently into Akagi Takenori's eyes. "Captain Akagi, I want to know why this is happening? Why was I able to snatch back the basketball from your hands in mid-air during the team entrance exam, but now I can't even get a single rebound?"

Akagi Takenori patted the basketball, then gripped it tightly and said in a deep voice, "It's simple! During the team entrance exam, I really didn't expect you to play unpredictably, so I didn't take you seriously enough, which is why you seized the opportunity. But after you joined the basketball team, I always went all out against you."

Sakuragi Hanamichi narrowed his eyes and retorted, "How could it be that simple? No matter what, I couldn't possibly miss a single rebound. There must be something I haven't noticed."

Upon hearing this, Takenori Akagi actually laughed, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

Then, Takenori Akagi asked, "So, what do you think we need to pay attention to when rebounding?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi analyzed, "Rebounding is nothing more than positioning yourself, then jumping at the right moment, and then it comes down to jumping ability."

Akagi Takenori nodded and said, "That's right, you're absolutely right, those are the three points."

Sakuragi Hanamichi was taken aback and urged, "Hey, Captain Akagi, can you stop beating around the bush? Just tell me directly."

Akagi Takenori smiled slightly, dribbled the basketball again, and asked calmly, "So, how do you feel about your performance in these three areas?"

Without hesitation, Sakuragi Hanamichi replied, "My positioning is no worse than yours. You know my killer butt move better than anyone. I also think my timing for jumping is perfect, and as for my jumping ability, that's even more of a problem."

Akagi Takenori laughed and said, "That's right, you're absolutely right."

Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately panicked.

Is this gorilla playing a trick on me?

Why does it feel so strange and sarcastic?

Sakuragi Hanamichi said, slightly angrily, "Captain Akagi, you've gone too far! This isn't fair! Can't you even speak properly?"

Takenori Akagi picked up the basketball in his hand and said, "Hanamichi Sakuragi, look at this, yes, this basketball, look at this basketball."

As he spoke, Takenori Akagi slammed the basketball against the backboard, then jumped up and caught it steadily.

This move left Sakuragi Hanamichi completely bewildered.

However, after landing, Akagi Takenori said seriously, "What you're thinking is wrong. I've noticed this problem with you a long time ago when we were battling under the basket."

What's on your mind?

What's wrong with the gorilla?

Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at Akagi Takenori with a puzzled expression.

Takenori Akagi continued, "Your sculpted butt is amazing! To be honest, I can do that move too, but I can't replicate your effect. Whenever I fight you, it's fine if I'm in front of you, but as soon as you block my way, I feel uncomfortable all over."

Sakuragi Hanamichi smiled, thinking to himself, "This is exactly the effect I wanted!"

At this moment, Takenori Akagi changed the subject, "But!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi was startled. Why was there a "but" here?

Akagi Takenori stared at Sakuragi Hanamichi and said seriously, "But you're too focused on the effect of the 'butt kill.' Your attention is entirely on me. You're constantly feeling my reactions, isn't that right?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi replied blankly, "Of course that's how it is! I used the 'butt kill' move precisely to push you out, didn't I?"

Akagi Takenori retorted, "Then what was your purpose in pushing me out?"

"Of course, it's about grabbing rebounds!" Sakuragi Hanamichi answered without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Sakuragi Hanamichi still couldn't understand what Akagi Takenori was trying to express.

Akagi Takenori said, "No! Your real thought isn't about grabbing the rebound at all; you're just concerned about my reaction to your 'butt kill'!"

What?

Are you alright, gorilla?

Of course, what I was thinking about was grabbing the rebound!

This time, however, Sakuragi Hanamichi remained silent. He frowned and waited for Akagi Takenori to continue.

Akagi Takenori said, "At first I also found it incredible, but after fighting with you many times, I realized that every time you used the 'butt kill' on me, your mind and attention were all on your butt. All you cared about was whether the 'butt kill' could push me away, whether it could make me uncomfortable, and whether it could make me feel disgusted."

At this point, Takenori Akagi smiled and said, "The answer is definitely yes. Every time you make me feel uncomfortable, I find your movements disgusting. And your physical strength is indeed very strong. With the help of your 'butt kill,' you can often push me away."

At this moment, Takenori Akagi raised the basketball in his hand, "But here's the problem. I don't care if you block my position for a moment. So what if you block my position? I can still grab the rebound from behind."

Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately retorted, "Impossible! I'm in the best position, and my jumping ability and take-off time are the same as yours. How could you possibly have a chance to grab the rebound before me?"

Akagi Takenori said seriously, "When your attention is all on that 'butt-grabbing' move, can you still grasp the best timing for your jump? Think about it carefully, aren't you always a little bit slower than me?"

A slightly slower takeoff?

Holy crap!

After he said that...

It seems that's really the case!