Chapter 111 Where Are We Going?

"Stop him!"

Rukawa suddenly stopped, dribbled past Changcheng players with his back to the basket, and glanced at Hana's tactical hand gestures on the sidelines.

Rukawa suddenly spoke up: "Passing route."

Sakuragi formed a human wall, blocking the opponent's pursuit: "You stinky fox, hurry up!"

"Shut up! You idiot!"

Rukawa Kaede flicked his wrist, and the basketball pierced through his opponent's fist, landing squarely in Mitsui's palm.

That was the technique that Kanon used to dismantle Sannoh Ichinokura Satoshi during her special training!

sharp!

Mikoshiba seemed to see in Rukawa Kaede the ruthlessness of wanting to kill his opponent with a single sword strike!

"Thanks!" Mitsui, who had been waiting outside the three-point line, caught the ball and raised his hand, sending the basketball arcing perfectly.

Chang Cheng, the center, tried to force his way past Akagi, and sneered: "So what if there's a 12-kilogram weight difference!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Akagi's shoulder blade shattered his arrogance!

Akagi: "Hmph!"

"Senior, we can call a timeout!" Coach Chang Cheng loosened his tie, cracking the tactical board under his grip.

He couldn't just stand by and watch his impregnable defenses be breached by this "ragtag" team from Shohoku!

Coach Anzai's teacup rippled: "Oh, hehehe..."

This is not the kind of teamwork that high school students should have!

What's even more terrifying is that Rukawa Kaede's every move precisely blocked the passing lanes, as if he had foreseen all of Chang Cheng's tactical changes in advance!

Chang Cheng's teammates were shocked by Xiangbei's tactical demonstration.

The Shohoku team: This isn't a tactical demonstration, it's a massive wife-protecting scene!!

On the sidelines, Kanon was squatting down, drawing a running pattern for Sakuragi.

Mikoshiba awkwardly handed over the water bottle.

Rukawa Kaede's eyes were sharp. He suddenly blocked in front of him, pulled down his wristband, and turned the "Renie" embroidered on it to the outside.

He coldly replied, "Your success rate in preventing me from breaking through is equal to your probability of winning her over, which is 0%."

Ozu Shiba: "???"

When Hanon looked up, Rukawa was already kneeling on one knee, looking at her at eye level: "The individual coaching session has exceeded the allotted time."

The next day.

When the final whistle blew for the first practice match, Kanon and Sakuragi arrived at the stadium.

"We won?" Sakuragi glanced at the scoreboard, wiped the sweat from his t-shirt, and smirked, "We can win by ten points even without this genius?"

"Hey Rukawa, you're still all sullen even after winning?" Mitsui tried to put his arm around Rukawa's shoulder, but Rukawa dodged to the side.

The junior student with icy shards kept his gaze fixed on Hanon's face: "This is not what she wanted."

Snap!

Hanon slammed the data notebook onto the bench.

The videotape is playing back—

Despite being surrounded by three people, Akagi forcefully hooked his hand!

Mitsui pulled up for a three-pointer even when he was blocked by two players outside the three-point line!

Rukawa's pass button seems to be glued shut with superglue!

Hana pursed her lips. "What about your teamwork? What about your tactical training during this period?"

“Miyagi Ryota,” Manager Ayako said coldly, “why have you given up open looks three times in a row, opting instead for difficult floaters instead of mid-range shots?”

"Um..." the dark-skinned PE student tactically scratched his head, "My wristband is a little tight today..."

Kanon: "What about the pick-and-roll shot that Akagi-senpai just learned last week?"

A gorilla's tactical cough.

"And there's Mitsui-senpai—"

"Haha, my hands feel super hot today!" The Flame Man, who never admits defeat, shook his hands.

Rukawa suddenly grabbed Kanon's hand and placed it on his head. "...I passed the ball twice!"

The Shohoku team: ...Where's your face?

"Does that count as two failed back passes?" Ayako added sarcastically.

Sakuragi suddenly squeezed between the two, sweat still dripping from the hem of his t-shirt: "You stinky fox, what are you trying to prove! If this genius were here..."

Akagi, Mitsui, and Miyagi: "You'll foul out in the third quarter!"

Hanon took a deep breath and tapped on the data notebook: "11 effective plays, 43 individual plays, 28 turnovers—Miyagi waived mid-range shots 7 times, Akagi-senpai toughed against double teams 9 times, Mitsui-senpai took 6 wild shots, Rukawa..."

She suddenly froze, looking at the sports water bottle that had been shoved into her arms.

Rukawa unscrewed the bottle cap without changing his expression. "Are you thirsty?"

"You stinky fox! Don't stink... Ugh!" Sakuragi's mouth was covered by a towel by Miyagi.

Coach Chang Cheng watched from the opposite bench and hastily wrote: "The problem children's army will be crushed in no time!"

Hanon pondered that Shohoku lacked on-court experience. The purpose of having Chang Cheng practice together was to refine tactics, identify problems, and solve them!

Hanon wants them to be truly independent, both technically and psychologically! They must not become dependent on her and Anzai!

Rukawa Kaede shouldered the brunt of the team's struggle and was the first to be thrust into the spotlight.

She held Rukawa's hands and said, "In my heart, you are the most important person in Shohoku..."

Rukawa Kaede's eyelashes trembled slightly: ...!

"It's about making every teammate a trump card!"

Rukawa nodded expressionlessly; he would pass the ball right now!

She clasped her hands together and said to Sakuragi, "In my heart, you are the most important person in Shohoku..."

Sakuragi suddenly covered his face, a suspicious blush peeking through his fingers: "W-why are you bringing this up all of a sudden! This genius hasn't even played yet..."

She continued, "Only your rebounding and defense can ignite the team's comeback!"

Sakuragi, puffing out his large pectoral muscles, declared: "Only a genius knows how to do this!"

Kanon said to Mitsui, "In my heart, you are the most important person in Shohoku... Your three-point shooting and basketball wisdom are the key to breaking the deadlock for Shohoku!"

"Password?" Mitsui suddenly did a fadeaway jump shot at thin air. "Right now... I'm the Unlimited Power version!"

She told Miyagi, "In my heart, you are the most important person in Shohoku... Shohoku's offensive rhythm is always defined by 'lightning speed'!"

Miyagi suddenly accelerated, completing three shuttle runs before anyone could react: "See that? That's the resolve of lightning speed!"

Slam on the brakes!

"Ah Cai...hehehe!"

He made a heart shape with his hands in Ayako's direction and was almost knocked away by Akagi who was walking towards him.

She told Akagi, "In my heart, you are the most important person in Shohoku... You are not only an impenetrable wall in the paint, but also the tactical pivot of the whole team!"

Akagi's face was serious, but his eyes were red as he turned away: "Tactical pivots and all that... you guys better line up properly! We're going to do a tactical drill!"

Ayako floated by, holding a paper fan: "Your chuunibyou energy replenished? Then let's channel that passion into tomorrow's tactical coordination!"

"Hai!"

The Shohoku Five: As expected, we still have to rely on me!!!

Kuwata wrote in the new tactics book: "July 17th, Tactic Name: Assistant Coach Hanon's PUA, Harvest - The Awakening of Five Beasts!"

—Second practice match

Coach Anzai took Sakuragi to the gym for special training.

Chang Cheng, a member of the team, was about to laugh at the chaotic Xiangbei team on the court, but he was so shocked that he swallowed his laughter back.

The Shohoku team is in complete chaos one moment, and then suddenly their defense is breached the next.

That's really strange!

"This is all the Kanagawa champions are?"

"Chang Cheng will surely win!"

Chang Cheng's players pointed at the scoreboard and laughed, but they didn't see their coach's tense expression.

Mikoshiba stared intently at Kanon: "What tricks are you playing?"

"Excellent!" Hanon clapped her hands. "Mitsui-senpai's off-ball movement is 0.3 seconds faster than yesterday!"

Hanon's fingertip paused on a spot on the stopwatch: "Akagi-senpai positioned himself 0.5 seconds too early—just enough for Changcheng, the center forward, to step into the trap in the penalty area!"

Rukawa Kaede suddenly snatched the tactical board and shoved a thermos cup at him: "The decibel level is too high."

Amidst the rising steam, her eyes suddenly lit up: "Xiao Feng! That no-look pass just now! The trajectory was 3 degrees higher than last week!"

"Indeed, practice makes perfect!"

Rukawa Kaede's lips curled up slightly in a smile.

The practice match turned into a testing ground for Shohoku's tactics.

Shohoku became even more excited after losing the game!

After the meal, Chang Cheng's team members went out for a stroll in high spirits.

Meanwhile, the Shohoku team was having a small meeting at Hanon's house, where each player was reviewing their performance, summarizing their own actions, and sharing their thoughts on the experimental tactics.

—Third practice match

During halftime, Changcheng's players were very dissatisfied: "Coach Anzai isn't here again? This is so disrespectful to us!"

Mikoshiba suddenly realized that Kanon was not Coach Anzai's shadow, but a whetstone to hone her skills!

Coach Chang Cheng: "Haven't you realized yet? Shohoku is treating us like free sparring partners! They don't care about winning or losing at all!"

Upon hearing this, Chang Cheng's team members became even more enraged and were determined to challenge Xiangbei!

In the end, the two sides barely managed a draw!

Coach Chang Cheng was so angry he felt like his teeth were about to break; he instantly harbored resentment towards Coach Anzai.

I came all this way to practice together, but they didn't show me any mercy at all!

-- Fourth practice match

Sakuragi, the mysterious figure from Shohoku High School, has finally made his appearance!

Chang Cheng must be wary of both the mysterious player and Shohoku's ace!

In contrast to Chang Cheng's all-out effort, the Xiangbei team became increasingly coordinated and played with more and more ease.

Look, it's Rukawa Kaede again!

Mikoshiba was speechless, but still wanted to give it a shot, so he put on a three-man gank!

result!

Rukawa Kaede passes the ball! Goal!

Shohoku is really too cunning!

Chang Cheng felt very frustrated.

Shohoku's invincibility began with Rukawa Kaede, whose ability to both attack and pass the ball left them helpless.

If the focus is on Rukawa, the rest of Shohoku comes alive again. Akagi frequently makes an impact in the paint, and with Mitsui and Miyagi constantly attacking the basket, the game becomes a one-sided affair.

Coach Chang Cheng held his teacup, staring blankly at the rising steam.

He wants to go back to Shizuoka!

In the end, Shohoku defeated Changcheng in a one-sided massacre, ending Changcheng's Kanagawa journey.

The players from both sides bowed to each other and said in unison, "Thank you for your guidance!"

Mikoshiba said to Kanon, "Your players are amazing!"

"You're wrong." Hanon said with a smile, "Without Hanamichi's rebounds tearing apart the defense, Xiaofeng's sword would have been broken in the crowd; without Miyagi's coordination, Mitsui-senpai's spark would not have been able to ignite the flame—and their brilliance... is rooted in the soil that Akagi-senpai watered with his blood and sweat."

"Our hard-working substitutes also provided the team with the greatest support. So, the strength lies not in any one player, but in the entire team."

Coach Chang Cheng shook hands with Coach Anzai: "Senior... this kind of training intensity will ruin the children!"

Coach Anzai took off his glasses: "Do you know why Sakuragi Hanamichi was able to burn through your three-year-old iron wall in three months?"

A glint flashed in his glasses. "Because in this child's eyes... burns a wildfire that you have long since extinguished!"

As the bus started moving, Mikoshiba suddenly rolled down the window.

As dusk fell, the Shohoku Gymnasium was as bright as day, with figures practicing shuttle runs—

Shinkansen platform.

Hanon gripped the tactics manual tightly. As soon as she looked up, she saw that the entire Xiangbei team had formed a 3-2 zone defense, completely blocking the gate.

Rukawa Kaede took her suitcase: "We're here."

Hua Yin's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Where are we going?"

The entire Shohoku team roared in unison: "To dominate the entire nation!"