Chapter 117 The Kidnapping of a Ball

After a moment's thought, Huayin said, "Just say you are me."

"You are me!" Boeing shouted without thinking, then froze, his sea-blue eyes widening in surprise. "Huh?"

Huayin: "..."

The entire Shohoku team froze instantly. "Is she out of her mind?"

Hanon waved her hands frantically, "Ah, no! I mean, I'm Kanon? No, no!"

The members of Shohoku exchanged glances: It's confirmed; she's a beauty, but her mind isn't right.

Hanon sighed: "...Just say change tactics."

"Change tactics! Change tactics!"

Boeing felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and turned to give Coach Anzai an excessively bright smile.

Coach Anzai's glasses flashed with a sharp light as his gaze swept back and forth between the basketball and Haneo: "Oh ho ho ho..."

The referee's whistle blew: "Shohoku requests a timeout—"

The five members of Shohoku walked slowly back to the bench.

Rukawa's pupils suddenly contracted, and he snatched the basketball in a swift movement: "You—"

His questioning came to an abrupt end.

This ball... is abnormally heavy!

Boeing blinked and said, "I brought your wife!"

The Shohoku team members were once again stunned.

"Pfft—" Miyagi sprayed the water he had just drunk three meters away. "Has this young lady lost her mind?!"

Mitsui Hisashi's lips twitched: "Are fans all this crazy these days?"

Rukawa Kaede kept his eyes glued to the ball.

"Xiaoyao," a familiar voice suddenly came from the basketball, "tell them..."

Rukawa Kaede's fingertips trembled suddenly.

Boeing immediately turned into a repeater:

"Daimatsu Commercial's number 4 has an old injury to his left knee, so Miyagi will focus on attacking his right side..."

"Their zone defense has blind spots at the free-throw line..."

"Mitsui-senpai, be mindful of the bottom line..."

"ikebana..."

She even perfectly imitated the gentle trailing tone that Kanon used when saying "flower path".

Rukawa's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He carefully held the basketball in front of him, resting his forehead on the surface of the ball, even slowing his breathing.

"Nini?" The call was so gentle that it sent a chill down the spines of all the team members.

The basketball trembled slightly in his palm: "Xiao Feng? Can you hear me?"

The fox's eyes lit up: "Hmm!"

Boeing tossed his blond hair triumphantly: "Now do you believe me?"

Coach Anzai's glasses reflected light again: "Oh ho ho ho..."

The entire Shohoku team took three steps back.

The problem they feared still happened: Shohoku's ace player went mad!

"It's all over, it's all over..." Miyagi clutched his head and backed away, "Rukawa's been cursed!"

Mitsui silently made the sign of the cross on his chest.

"Hey! Hey!" Sakuragi rushed up to steal the ball, "You stinky fox, what are you grinning about at the basketball for?!"

Rukawa Kaede held the basketball protectively to his chest, his eyes shining: "Nini said—"

He took a deep breath

"From the day of the practice match against Ryonan, Shohoku has only ever won!"

This sentence is like a sharp sword cleaving through the gloom, or like the rising sun breaking through the dark clouds.

The memory of that failed practice match flashed before everyone's eyes—

That figure standing on the sidelines, radiant with light, proud and at ease.

"Big sister..." Sakuragi's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, tears welling in his eyes, "You're back...?"

Rukawa Kaede nodded solemnly and placed the basketball in the middle of the group: "She said—"

Without saying a word, the entire team simultaneously reached out and placed their hands on the basketball.

Sunlight cast warm dappled patterns on my palm.

When the team's voices came together, the entire arena resonated:

"We will definitely win!!!"

An uproar erupted in the stands:

[Where do these crazy guys from Shohoku get their confidence?!]

[Down by 28 points and still so arrogant?]

But...their eyes...are terrifying...

Rukawa Kaede suddenly brought the basketball close to his chubby face, his ear tips turning bright red: "...I like you the most too."

The Gong couple sighed, "Hey! Is this the time to confess?!"

Mitsui covered his eyes, crying out, "My eyes! My eyes!"

Sakuragi jumped up and down: "You stinky fox, how disgusting!"

Shohoku team: ......!

Coach Anzai: "Oh ho ho ho... It's so good to be young..."

But the teams that made it into the top eight nationwide are no ordinary teams.

On the sidelines, Boeing's command was frighteningly professional:

"An opening at a 45-degree angle on the left flank! It will appear in three seconds!"

"Watch out for their number 4's crossover run! He's about to receive the ball!"

"Close the elevator door!!"

[Yan Yi, biting his pen, looked completely bewildered: Didn't Xiao Yao not even understand offside?]

Sendoh leaned back lazily in his chair, his gaze fixed on that figure, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Ah Yao…” he murmured softly, “Still so nosy.”

The doting affection in his eyes was almost overflowing.

"Whoosh!" Rukawa hit a three-pointer from far away.

"Swish!" Mitsui hits a three-pointer.

"Boom!" Sakuragi dunks over the center.

The score fluctuated wildly:

78:89

85:92

94:94

With three seconds left, Rukawa Kaede leaped up from the ground in the logo area!

Timer reset to zero —

Rukawa Kaede maintained his shooting posture, his eyes following the arc of the ball.

Boeing's voice cut through the noise: "Nini said—you can come in!"

Whoosh!

97:94

Rukawa Kaede's lips curled up almost imperceptibly: "Of course!"

[The commentary booth erupted in cheers: Unbelievable! Shohoku pulled off an incredible 28-point comeback!]

The audience seats resembled a stormy sea, with waves of cheers rising and falling.

Rukawa Kaede turned and rushed towards the bench, the moment his long, slender fingers touched the basketball—

The weight remained the same, but there was no sound.

He suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze locking onto the furtive golden figure at the exit.

"Trying to escape?"

Sendoh chuckled softly, bracing himself against the railing with one hand, his slender figure tracing a graceful arc in the air.

He caught up with the fish in no time, taking three steps at a time, frantically turning it over.

"Gotcha," Sendoh's voice was languidly cheerful as he easily lifted her up by the waist, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and casually patted her bottom. "Trying to hide from me?"

"Put me down!" Boeing pounced on his shoulder. "Fisherman! Believe me or not, I'll turn you into a sea urchin!"

Sendoh ignored him, turned to the dumbfounded Shohoku team and waved casually: "I'm taking him away."

He glanced at Rukawa Kaede, who was holding a basketball, and said, "Remember to keep an eye on your coach next time."

Just as Rukawa was about to chase after her, Ayako grabbed his jersey: "Rukawa! That girl said that Oto is only temporarily asleep and will wake up soon."

Rukawa Kaede: "...Okay."

The members of Xiangbei stared at each other in disbelief.

Miyagi raised an eyebrow: "So... Kanon-senpai is really inside?"

Mitsui stroked his chin: "If that's true, wouldn't Rukawa be in love with a ball?"

Sakuragi roared in fury: "You filthy fox, let go of my sister!!"

Rukawa Kaede coldly shoved the basketball into his arms, his eyes warning: "Mine."

The Shohoku team members exchanged glances, seeing the same confusion and relief in each other's eyes.

Although the past two days have felt like a dream, they are willing to believe in this wonderful miracle.

The gloom that has shrouded Shohoku is finally about to dissipate, isn't it?

Resort.

Rukawa Kaede picked up the basketball, sat cross-legged on the floor, and stared at it intently.

The bathroom door was kicked open, and Mitsui walked out, drying his hair, water droplets glistening on his abs.

Rukawa Kaede's eyelashes didn't even tremble.

Sudden--

"Wow, I didn't expect Mitsui-senpai to be so...wild in private?"

Rukawa Kaede's eyes widened suddenly.

Hanon opened her eyes and met Mitsui, who was only wearing bright red shorts.

She muttered lazily, still half-awake, "Those abs are really well-defined..."

Rukawa's expression instantly plummeted from surprise to icy coldness. He shoved the basketball into his jersey and pulled his jacket tighter around himself.

Rukawa Kaede gritted his teeth: "Have you seen enough?"

Hana chuckled softly from inside the jersey: "Xiao Feng...you're so cute..."

Rukawa Kaede kept his icy expression to himself.

He unconsciously tightened his arms around her, locking the warmth in his embrace.

He coldly surveyed the entire dormitory: "Put your clothes on, everyone!"

Miyagi's hand, which had just taken off his T-shirt, froze in mid-air: "Huh?"

Mitsui, clutching a bath towel, looked utterly bewildered: "This is a boys' dormitory, okay?"

Sakuragi, shirtless and wiping sweat, jumped up and yelled, "You stinky fox, you're in charge of everything, from heaven to earth, including whether people wear clothes or not?!"

Without saying a word, Rukawa grabbed his clothes and slapped them open, precisely covering Mitsui's abs, Miyagi's collarbone, and Sakuragi's pectoral muscles.

Mitsui caught the clothes and grinned mischievously, "Oh~ are you afraid that Kanon-senpai will see us?"

Rukawa Kaede's face remained as cold as ice.

Miyagi whistled: "Rukawa's jealous! Because of a ball!!"

Sakuragi then realized what was happening and rushed forward, shouting, "My sister's awake?! You stinky fox, take your hand off me! That's my sister!"

Rukawa Kaede turned around and walked towards the bathroom with the basketball in his arms.

Hanon exclaimed in panic, "Wait! Why did you take me with you to the bath?!"

Miyagi sprays water: "Rukawa, you're a pervert!!"

Sakuragi Hammer charged forward: "You stinking fox, how dare you!!!"

Clatter!

Rukawa Kaede locked the door behind him, placed the basketball on the sink, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

“…Just look at me,” he commanded, his voice unusually trembling.

The bright red roots of her ears had spread to the back of her neck, and were particularly noticeable under the bathroom light.

Hana's voice was barely audible: "...You're cheating."

Rukawa didn't speak, his slender fingers slowly lifting the hem of his jersey...

Kanon: Wow——

Rukawa Kaede: ...

Outside the door, the three lemon brothers were stacked on top of each other, stuck to the door like a human pyramid:

"I can't hear anything at all!"

"What on earth did that filthy fox do to my sister?!"

"It's not really appropriate to eavesdrop like this... Move a little more to the left..."

After a long time, everyone's legs went numb from squatting.

They looked at each other in bewilderment.

Mitsui said seriously, "Can Kanon call the police now?"

Miyagi nodded: "The kidnapping of a ball."

Sakuragi frantically scratched at the door: "You stinking fox, come out here! My sister's innocence is undeniable!"

"Whoosh—" The bathroom door suddenly opened.

Rukawa Kaede walked out, his face flushed red, the basketball wrapped in a towel, looking like he was carrying a bomb.

Everyone stared up and down: "..."

Rukawa Kaede stiffened: "She's asleep."

He walked awkwardly to the bedside, then plopped down in the covers, rolling himself and the basketball into a sushi roll.

Hana said in a muffled voice, "Xiao Feng... you're smoking..."

Shouldn't she be the one who's embarrassed?

Rukawa Kaede closed his eyes and pretended to be dead: "...Sleep."

late at night.

Sakuragi crept up to Rukawa's bedside and reached out to steal the ball—

Rukawa Kaede closed his eyes and precisely slapped away his claws.

Sakuragi bristled: "Pretending to be asleep?!"

Rukawa, in a dreamlike state: "...Mine."

Mitsui, flashlight in hand: "Basketball rescue operation begins!"

Miyagi throws a pillow to distract her: "Watch my feint!"

"Whoosh—" The pillow hit Rukawa Kaede's face, instantly waking him up. He grabbed his slippers, ready to throw them—

Kanon suddenly exclaimed, "Huh? I think I can... move?"

Rukawa Kaede: "?"