Chapter 106 Opponent
Rukawa scooped up the ball, his half-closed eyes hidden in the shadows of his thick eyelashes, the fierce glint in his eyes like a sharp sword with concealed edge.
He was also eager to know just how good American college students really were.
Without a single wasted word or a trace of affectation, there seemed to be an electric current flowing between Rukawa and Nick, instantly enveloping the court in a tense atmosphere of duel.
Hana could feel the focus and determination permeating the air, and her heart involuntarily raced as she held her breath in anticipation.
Her eyes followed Rukawa's every move intently. Every dribble and turn of Rukawa made her heart pound.
Hanon gently clasped her hands together, expressing her unconditional trust in him and her deep anticipation for the upcoming fierce battle.
She knew that no matter who the opponent was, Rukawa Kaede would go all out and fight to the very end without holding back.
Nick grinned, arms outstretched, calf muscles taut. He wanted to see how Rukawa would break through his defenses!
Suddenly, Rukawa Kaede dribbled the ball and made a swift cut in from the right.
Nick quickly adjusted his position, following closely behind and refusing to let go.
Kanon thought it was just a clever feint, but Rukawa pressed on relentlessly, trying to force his way through.
Just as Nick stretched out his arm, his fingertips almost touching the basketball—
"Oh!!!"
The entire Shohoku team gasped in unison, and Kanon's heart skipped a beat as she stared intently at the action on the court.
Rukawa Kaede flashed to the side, feinted with his shoulder, and dribbled behind his back, seemingly about to break free from Nick's grasp—
"Phew!" The Xiangbei team breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone thought Rukawa had successfully passed Nick, but then Nick suddenly braked, turned around like lightning, and instantly caught up with Rukawa, accelerating again to block Rukawa's path.
Ayako gripped Kanon's arm tightly, muttering to herself, "Rukawa is as fast as the wind, but Nick... he's like lightning..."
These two were like two bolts of lightning, slicing through the stadium.
Kanon gently patted Ayako's hand, signaling her to relax, and her gaze drifted to Rukawa Kaede's steady ankle.
She thought to herself: Nick has indeed improved a lot, but that's perfect, he's the best opponent for Rukawa to hone his skills.
Suddenly, Hanon's pupils contracted—
Rukawa Kaede suddenly jumped up, about to shoot the ball towards the basket.
"That's impossible!"
"That was too reckless!"
"It was a feint! The distance is too far, there's no way he could make it!"
Amidst the skepticism, Nick did not hesitate at all. He suddenly jumped up, his outstretched arm seemingly reaching beyond Rukawa's shot.
The players from Shohoku were on edge, shouting incessantly, "No... go in! Go in!"
Listening to everyone's chaotic expressions, Hanon was speechless.
Nick's fingertips touched Rukawa's three-pointer, causing a subtle change in the trajectory of the basketball.
The moment Rukawa landed, he accelerated and sprinted again.
Before Kanon, shaken by Ayako, could even adjust her posture, Rukawa had already jumped—
Nick followed closely behind, and the two rushed towards the backboard almost simultaneously.
Miyagi exclaimed, "This guy's jumping ability is amazing!"
Sakuragi muttered dismissively, "Tch! He's far inferior to this genius."
Immediately afterward, Sakuragi shouted, "Hey!! You stinky fox! Is that all you've got? You're so lame!"
His voice was so loud it echoed throughout the stadium, unable to conceal the challenge and desire within him.
However, even louder than Sakuragi's voice was the deafening crash of the basketball hoop—
"Bang!"
Hanon felt as if her nerves had been shattered.
In just a fraction of a second, Rukawa Kaede delivered a powerful dunk, shattering all doubts.
The entire stadium seemed to freeze at that moment.
Rukawa landed steadily, his fox-like eyes softening, gleaming slightly as he looked at Hanon.
Hua Yin smiled at him, her voice tinged with pride, "Two to zero."
Then, with a cold glance at Sakuragi, Rukawa casually uttered two words: "Idiot."
Hanon thought Nick would be furious, but instead of being angry, he smiled even more brightly.
"That's really interesting! Those sudden stops and accelerations, did Nini teach you that?"
Nick's eyes gleamed with a desire to win and a confidence that allowed him to control the entire situation. This strong aura reminded Hanon of Rukawa Kaede's appearance on the court.
Nick ignored Rukawa's silence, grinned, and provocatively said, "It's my turn to attack. This time, I won't let you have it so easy..."
Before he could finish speaking, he dashed out like an arrow, heading straight for Rukawa Kaede.
The instant Rukawa Kaede was close behind, Nick dribbled twice, suddenly accelerated, and faked to Rukawa Kaede's right side.
Hanon was astonished to find that the movement was all too familiar—
"The same start, the same sudden stop, the same jump... just like Rukawa just now!"
The members of Shohoku High School also realized something was wrong and exclaimed in surprise.
"He's imitating Rukawa!"
"Even the direction of the cut is exactly the same!"
Ayako tugged at Kanon: "Nick perfectly imitated Rukawa's movements! Just who is he?"
Hana's eyes were calm, and a faint smile appeared on her lips: "Nick is a sophomore this year, a rising star in American college basketball, and a regular on various statistical lists."
Upon hearing this, the Shohoku players all gaped open, exclaiming, "Wow... that's too exaggerated!"
On the court, Nick seemed to enjoy the thrill of suppressing Rukawa Kaede. He not only imitated Rukawa Kaede but also deliberately left his own sharp edge in the details.
Every dribble, every turn, is an open provocation against Rukawa Kaede.
"Kid, Nini taught me these techniques too."
Nick swayed his shoulder dramatically from the left, then stopped abruptly, a smug smile playing on his lips, and began his trash-talking offensive.
“We’re both standing on this same field, both players she’s coached, but your level doesn’t seem to even come close to hers. No wonder she might not care about you that much.”
Hanon unconsciously leaned back, her right hand lightly tapping the railing, the rhythm revealing the subtle ripples in her heart.
Rukawa Kaede's slightly serious expression was like a taut string, tugging at her heartstrings.
This opponent is more formidable than ever before.
Nick is not only technically on par with Rukawa, but what's even more terrifying is his innate confidence and arrogance, which he attempts to use psychological tactics to defeat Rukawa.
Although Kanon believed that Rukawa could withstand the pressure, her anxiety still surged like a tide.
She tapped the railing faster and faster with her right hand, her eyes flashing with determination.
"Bang!"
The sound of the rim hitting the basket rang out again, and this time, Nick announced his presence with a powerful dunk.
He raised an eyebrow arrogantly, exuding an aura that seemed to devour the entire court. "See that? The same move, but I use it better than you. You admit it?"
Immediately afterward, Nick pressed closer to Rukawa, his contemptuous smile like a sharp icy blade, piercing straight to the heart.
"Your skills are nothing more than a game for chicks. What you can do, I can do too. There are plenty of players like you in America. Nini's fondness for you will eventually fade away."
Hanon's heart tightened instantly. Although she couldn't hear exactly what Nick said, Rukawa's suppressed anger burned her gaze like a raging fire.
She had never seen him like this before; his anger was palpable in his tightly pursed lips and taut jawline.
Hanon was terrified that the next second, Rukawa would smash the ball at Nick, causing him to bleed profusely on the court.
The atmosphere was extremely tense, as if a string was about to snap.
"Oh ho ho ho, everyone, let's take a break."
Coach Anzai's gentle, spring-like voice rang out at just the right time, like heavenly music.
These words, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, instantly melted the ice on the field, easing the tense atmosphere for a moment.
Rukawa didn't even spare Nick a second glance, turning around and striding towards the sidelines.
Hana quickly stepped forward, handed him a bottle of water, winked, and asked in a relaxed tone, "How are you? How are you feeling?"
Rukawa responded in a low voice, his tone so cold it seemed to freeze the air, "...He does have some ability."
Rukawa Kaede's voice was so cold that even a fool could tell he was unhappy.
Hua Yin cupped his face, forcing him to look into her eyes. In those dark eyes, there was resentment, stubbornness, and a determination to win.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid you'll lose?"
Hanon spoke frankly because she knew that what he needed was not comfort, but the courage to face it and the determination to break through.
Rukawa Kaede stood there, frozen.
A few seconds felt like centuries.
Finally, his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and he turned his head away, his voice low but firm, "I will not lose."
"Of course." A warm feeling welled up in Hana's heart, and her eyes crinkled into crescent moons with a smile.
This is Rukawa Kaede, the boy who will always maintain a pure love for basketball.
Admitting defeat? That's not his style.
Kanon witnessed Rukawa's unwavering courage and fearlessness in the face of challenges. These were qualities she cherished most and were deeply moved by.
Rukawa Kaede turned his head, his deep gaze fixed on Kanon, "You will always be this determined, won't you?"
"certainly."
Kanon answered without hesitation, "No matter when or where, I will stand by your side and fight alongside you... until the end of the world."
Rukawa Kaede, his round face blank, said, "...Yeah, I know."
Kanon glanced at Rukawa's ankle, a sly glint in her eyes, "Give it to me."
Rukawa Kaede instantly understood her meaning. Without the slightest hesitation, he squatted down, took the heavy lead weight off his ankle, and handed it to Hanon.
Just as he was about to take it out of the wristband, Hana stopped him, "No need."
Hanon looked at the lead weights and smiled: "These are enough. Go, go and defeat him completely, and let everyone see your strength."
Go and let your light shine.
The setting sun shattered in Hana's eyes, and Rukawa Kaede gazed at her, both gentle and wild, his heart rippled with emotion.
He took a deep breath, turned and walked towards the court.
When Rukawa Kaede stood in front of Nick again, Nick had already put away his smile, and his eyes were dark.
"You didn't go all out before, are you looking down on me?" Nick narrowed his eyes.
“Nini required me to carry these lead weights with me even when I wasn’t training, in order to maintain my condition.”
Rukawa Kaede lightly patted the basketball in his hand, expressionless. "What, Nini didn't teach you this little detail?"
Nick's face instantly turned ashen. "Perhaps I don't need your little chick tricks."
Rukawa Kaede remained expressionless, his lips forming an arc as if sliced by a sharp blade. "The competition... has only just begun."
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