After landing, Sendoh Akira looked back and was a little puzzled. Why hadn't Rukawa Kaede gotten up yet? Had he sprained his ankle?
At this moment, the players from the Shohoku team all gathered around.
Rukawa Kaede was sitting on the ground, pressing his right leg with his right hand. His forehead was covered in sweat, and everyone could clearly feel that Rukawa Kaede was very tired and seemed to be enduring pain.
Sakuragi Hanamichi rushed to Rukawa Kaede's side immediately. He frowned and asked with concern, "Rukawa Kaede, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
Rukawa Kaede glanced at Sakuragi Hanamichi with a serious expression, but said nothing.
The next moment, Rukawa Kaede's eyes widened!
Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately squatted down and began massaging Rukawa Kaede's legs with both hands. As he massaged Rukawa's legs earnestly, he asked, "Is it here? How does it feel? Any better?"
At this moment, Rukawa Kaede was extremely shocked. He was aloof, taciturn, and rarely interacted with others; in fact, one could say he had no friends.
In his life, besides sleeping and playing basketball, there was nothing else of importance.
However, everyone has a heart and a soul. As long as you are a person, you will have emotional needs to some extent. Even Li Yunlong, the protagonist of the TV series "Bright Sword", said: "I, Li Yunlong, am not made of iron. I also have a heart, I also have a liver, and I also have feelings."
What's more, Rukawa Kaede, who is in the prime of his youth?
Deep down, Rukawa Kaede also longs for a good brother he can talk to and have fun with, preferably someone he can play basketball with.
However, this was too difficult for him; he simply didn't know how to make friends.
To those around him, Rukawa is a basketball prodigy with exceptional skills, but also a very aloof personality. People admire him but don't see him as someone they can befriend.
Everyone thought that Rukawa Kaede disdained making friends with others.
But ever since Rukawa Kaede met Sakuragi Hanamichi, he felt that Sakuragi Hanamichi was a very good person.
Sakuragi Hanamichi always found opportunities to chat with him. Sakuragi Hanamichi was always the one looking for interesting topics, and the atmosphere was very lively. Although he rarely spoke, he had to admit that he quite liked it when Sakuragi Hanamichi talked to him about interesting things.
That's why Rukawa appeared and gave Sakuragi Hanamichi pointers that morning when Sakuragi Hanamichi and Akagi Haruko were having a secret training session.
During the match against Ryonan, he was very willing to cooperate with Sakuragi Hanamichi.
But Rukawa never expected that after he fell to the ground, Sakuragi Hanamichi would squat down next to him and massage his legs without saying a word!
And Sakuragi Hanamichi's leg-rubbing technique feels so good!
Rukawa Kaede immediately thought to himself, "This brother is really someone I can get along with."
Not only was Rukawa Kaede shocked, but even those around him were surprised that Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was seen as a delinquent by many, was so kind to Rukawa Kaede!
Are they childhood friends who have been playing together since they were little?
What a precious friendship!
Coach Taoka, however, murmured confidently, "I was right! Even though Rukawa is a super rookie, he's still far behind Sendoh. Defending against Sendoh takes a huge toll on his stamina, and now he's exhausted!"
Coach Taoka then looked at the other members of Shohoku.
Akagi Takenori was injured and had to leave the field, while Rukawa Kaede was also exhausted.
Who else is on the Shohoku team?
That leaves only Sakuragi Hanamichi, who is unpredictable and doesn't play by the rules!
Now that Rukawa is exhausted, Coach Anzai will definitely need to find someone to replace him.
However, the entire bench of the Shohoku team consists of first-year rookies, and these rookies simply cannot replace Rukawa Kaede's position!
Thinking of this, Coach Taoka's lips curled up.
Ryonan is determined to win this match!
"Rukawa Kaede, how are you? Feeling better? Can you still keep going? If you can't, take a break. Don't worry, I'm here for you!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi's concerned voice once again reached Rukawa Kaede's ears.
However, at this moment, Rukawa's eyes were unusually firm, and the fatigue on his face was gone. "I'm fine now, thank you."
Sakuragi Hanamichi waved his hand, "No need to thank me, we're brothers, it's nothing!"
Rukawa Kaede slowly got up, seemingly unharmed. He looked at Sakuragi Hanamichi and exclaimed, "Your leg-rubbing technique just now was amazing."
Sakuragi Hanamichi smiled smugly, but there was something he dared not say aloud: "What are you talking about? I'm a regular at reputable massage parlors!"
At this moment, the referee asked, "Red number 11, should we make a substitution?"
Rukawa explained, "No need to change people, I'm fine."
The referee then announced to both teams, "The game continues."
Upon hearing this, Coach Taoka, standing on the sidelines, was taken aback. "Even in this condition, why isn't he going to go down and rest?"
Coach Taoka then looked at Coach Anzai, who also seemed to have no intention of making a substitution.
Coach Taoka couldn't help but sigh, "It's such a waste for Rukawa to stay with Shohoku. If he came to Ryonan and teamed up with Sendoh, they would be invincible! Instead, he's playing with Sakuragi Hanamichi, a basketball novice. What a pity!"
The game has now restarted.
The basketball has once again fallen into Sakuragi Hanamichi's hands.
Coach Taoka narrowed his eyes and said confidently, "Sakuragi Hanamichi, I know you will pass to Rukawa Kaede, you can't fool me! But even if you pass it to Rukawa Kaede, what then? Rukawa Kaede is already exhausted, even if he gets the ball, he won't pose any threat."
"Rukawa Kaede!" Sakuragi Hanamichi was indeed calling Rukawa Kaede's name!
Coach Taoka smiled smugly, "Using this trick again? Try passing to Kogure Kiminobu this time, and see if Ikegami can steal the ball from you this time?"
But when Sakuragi Hanamichi called out Rukawa Kaede's name, he passed the basketball in his hand to Yasuda Yasuharu.
They're not playing by the rules again!
Yasuda Yasuharu clearly felt that Sakuragi Hanamichi was going to pass the ball to Rukawa Kaede, but the basketball suddenly flew towards him. He was also surprised, but he still managed to catch the basketball steadily.
"Shoot!" Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted to Yasuda Yasuharu the moment he passed the ball.
Yasuda Yasuharu did not hesitate and got up to shoot.
The basketball flew towards the backboard.
With a "bang".
The basketball hit the outside of the basketball hoop.
It's time to grab the rebound again!
At that moment, Rukawa Kaede, Sendoh Akira, and Ikegami Ryoji rushed to the basket!
All three jumped at the same time!
One hand grabbed the basketball first, and then immediately controlled it in his arms!
It's Rukawa Kaede!
After landing, Rukawa Kaede didn't hesitate at all and immediately got up to jump and shoot!
Goal!
Coach Taoka, standing on the sidelines, immediately stood up and said in disbelief, "How could this be? Rukawa was clearly exhausted, how could he still grab that rebound?"
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