Chapter 13 Deeply Shocking
At that spot, Hanon was discussing something with Coach Anzai.
Rukawa Kaede's gaze finally reached Kanon.
Ayako had a sudden inspiration, and a look of inquiry appeared in her eyes as she kept glancing back and forth between Hanon and Rukawa.
The game has entered the second half.
Takamiya excitedly grabbed the video camera: "Wow, Hanamichi's on the court! I have to record this, the genius Sakuragi's basketball debut!"
Noma burst into laughter: "This guy is hilarious! He's so nervous he's moving his arms and legs in unison!"
Yohei: "Good luck, Hanamichi! Hahaha..."
Hanon's gaze was fixed on the tall, lively red-haired monkey in the arena.
Sakuragi jumped up and down: "Pass me the ball! Waaah! Why didn't you pass it to me? You passed it to that stinky fox! I can't dunk like this!! Pass the ball!"
Sakuragi was both excited and nervous on his first appearance, and all he could think about was showing off. His shots were either airballs or hit the rim, resulting in frequent mistakes.
Kanon and Ayako exchanged a glance and sighed together, "Ugh, this is such a headache—"
Once Sakuragi starts acting up, he becomes completely lawless.
Rukawa Kaede couldn't stand it anymore and kicked him: "Idiot, you're a disgrace."
With that kick, Sakuragi finally got into the zone, and performed quite well! He began to showcase his explosive power and athleticism.
He intercepted high passes, dribbled forward, grabbed rebounds, and then passed the ball again—quickly and skillfully.
Not only did it attract Coach Tian Gang's attention, but the audience was also amazed.
Ayako: "Wow, Sakuragi has such a long arm and leg that he has an excellent defensive range! Even with a simple jump, he can easily get the basketball. Coupled with his strong physique, it's hard for anyone to compete with him. They can only be forced to back down."
Hanon nodded: "Moreover, he has the keen senses of a wild beast, and he is likely to perform exceptionally well in providing support defense."
Of course, this is when he's in a serious state.
Wow! Shohoku's number 11 is amazing!
So handsome!
The audience erupted in thunderous applause, which resounded throughout the basketball arena.
Hanon's gaze shifted to Shohoku's number 11.
After receiving the ball from his teammate, Rukawa Kaede broke through multiple defenses and successfully bypassed the opponents' obstacles. At the perfect moment, he quickly jumped up and accurately shot the ball.
A hint of delight appeared in his narrow eyes.
He raised his hand to wipe away sweat, revealing the beautifully defined muscles in his arms. His hair brushed against his forehead, glistening with beads of sweat, and his entire being exuded an aura of masculinity.
Like a natural luminous body, it involuntarily draws people's attention.
Across the crowd, Hana looked at Rukawa Kaede, who seemed to be looking over at her too. His stunning features and clear gaze immediately caught her eye.
Sendoh of Ryonan Team is incredibly strong and should not be underestimated.
He was very casual about the game from the beginning, until he was inspired by Rukawa and Sakuragi, at which point he began to take the game seriously and unleash his true strength.
The score between the two teams went back and forth until they were tied.
With the game countdown underway and Shohoku's score nearly surpassing Ryonan's, Sakuragi stood with his hands on his hips and laughed, "Hahaha, this genius has made the crucial shot!"
"Sakuragi did a great job!"
Just as the Shohoku players were still feeling smug, Sendoh charged forward with the ball.
Seeing this, Sakuragi was startled, and then immediately followed Sendoh's footsteps.
Rukawa Kaede reacted even faster than him, and the two of them ran together toward Sendoh.
Sendoh leaps, and at the highest point of his shot, with a skillful layup, he successfully puts the basketball into the basket.
"Beep—Match over!"
Shohoku narrowly lost 83-82.
Sendoh breathed a sigh of relief, wiping his sweat from his clothes, and looked at the two of them. These two first-year students were really fast; he had almost been stopped.
The result of this match was unbelievable to Sakuragi.
Just seconds before, they had overtaken Ryonan and were basking in the joy of victory. But seconds later, their morale plummeted and they became dejected.
"Pass the ball! Pass the ball!"
Sakuragi stared blankly at his teammates, seemingly lost in his own world, shouting over and over again.
Seeing his dejected state, Kogure stepped forward and gently patted him on the back: "Sakuragi, even though you don't want to accept it, we've already lost!"
Unable to accept reality, Sakuragi charged towards the basket, tears welling in his eyes, and shouted, "Pass the ball! Pass the ball now! We still have time!"
Akagi pressed his head down, his serious face softening: "It's alright, it's okay."
For three long years, Akagi was unable to escape this situation, which is why he was able to understand most deeply the resentment and regret he felt when he lost a match.
Although he was unwilling to succumb to reality, he was powerless to change it.
Haruko, who was sitting in the audience, stood up and reassured him, "Sakuragi! It's okay!"
Sakuragi turned to look at her, his eyes glistening with tears, "Haruko... but..."
Haruko smiled and comforted him, "It's okay, Sakuragi, you did a great job! Keep it up!"
Sakuragi looked at Haruko with emotion; Haruko was indeed cute and kind.
Hanon inserted the pen into the notebook, closed the notebook, and placed it on the stool.
Upon seeing Kanon on the bench, Sakuragi's tears fell.
He looked dejected, his head hanging low, his shoulders slumped, like a helpless and lost giant dog.
Hanon stepped forward, a gust of wind lingering on a strand of hair at her forehead, and she smiled as she said:
"Hanamichi, you look so cool when you give it your all and fight for every rebound!"
Sakuragi's eagerness to perform on the court stems largely from his desire to be praised, affirmed, and loved.
Those exquisitely beautiful eyes held genuine sincerity, devoid of any pretense.
Sakuragi blinked gently, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably. He pouted, "But I still lost..."
Kanon asked earnestly, "Hanamichi, what is your goal?"
"What?" Sakuragi stared at her blankly for a moment, then his voice rang out: "My goal is—to dominate the nation!"
"Then you must act quickly and work desperately towards this goal." Hana patted his shoulder. "From today onwards, there will only be victory."
The voice wasn't loud, and the tone was gentle. The stadium was silent, but everyone's gaze changed.
Rukawa Kaede stood in the crowd, his eyes flashing with intense emotion.
Hana's spirited face was fully captured in his eyes.
Radiant with light, proud and at ease.
Ryonan is a strong team, so their loss is a good thing for Sakuragi and Shohoku.
Sakuragi's personality means that once he fails, he will never forget it. His strong competitive spirit and never be satisfied with the status quo will be more helpful for his training.
Even though she had a chance to win the match and knew the plot in advance, Kanon did not interfere.
Sakuragi's emotions gradually calmed down.
Being gazed upon by those clear, bright eyes truly inspires boundless courage, as if giving him an invisible strength to support him in facing all challenges.
Sakuragi immediately wiped away his tears and grinned foolishly, "Hey, that's right! This genius will keep working hard, and I'll definitely win next time! Sendoh, you wait, I'll definitely beat you next time!"
Yohei laughed: "The genius Sakuragi Hanamichi has been resurrected."
Takamiya: "Wow, Hanamichi is truly as strong as ever! Go, Sakuragi Hanamichi!"
Sendoh raised an eyebrow: "If you want to defeat me... you'll have to practice like your life depends on it."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Huayin.
Their eyes met, and Huayin nodded to him.
Besides Coach Anzai, Sendoh was another person who could unconditionally trust Sakuragi's talent, and the final game-winning shot in the practice match had a significant impact on Sakuragi's future career.
Sendoh raised a bright, sunny smile that also seemed a little cynical.
Rukawa Kaede silently lowered his head, his jawline taut, his frustration and resentment bursting forth like a bomb.
When he looked at Xian Dao, his eyes seemed to burn with two raging flames, his fighting spirit surging forth, unstoppable.
Rukawa Kaede covered his head with a towel and just sat down when he noticed something under his buttocks. He picked it up and saw that it was Kanon's notebook.
—The page of paper on the ballpoint pen card was covered with offensive and defensive routes.
A hint of heterochromatic light flashed in the narrow fox eyes.
She always deeply moved herself.
Every single time.
Yan was very happy to see Hanon and waved from a distance: "Hi... Hanon-neechan."
Hanon looked over, her smile warm, and waved, "Hi, Yan Yi."
Sendoh asked curiously, "Who is that girl?"
Yan Yi: "She's Sakuragi's older sister, and also the assistant coach of the Shohoku team!"
Sendoh raised an eyebrow. Shohoku really has a lot of tricks up their sleeves, with a beautiful manager and a beautiful assistant coach.
After the game, all the team members gathered in the recording room of Shohoku High School. In the middle was Coach Anzai, who was sipping health tea, and Hanon, who was holding a data notebook.
The Shohoku basketball team held its first game analysis and debriefing meeting, a completely new experience for all the players.
It is essential to improve oneself through reflection and review.
Reviewing performance during a match can help players better understand their own weaknesses and the specific strengths of their opponents in the confrontation.
This not only allows you to be fully prepared for the next game, but also deepens your understanding and knowledge of basketball skills.
Coach Anzai briefly explained the team's performance and pointed out the key reasons for the loss. He then picked up his teacup and handed the rest to Hanon.
"Every player needs to have a full understanding of the tactical layout and signals used by Ryonan this time."
Hanon paused the TV, and Takamiya's filming skills were excellent, providing a panoramic view that captured the dynamics of the players on the field and the coaches on the bench.
“Pay attention to their body language, not just the players, but also the coaches.”
The boys listened silently, their eyes focused intently.
"Coach Tian discovered Shohoku's weakness in uneven strength, so he immediately launched his first strategy—man marking. He closely marked Captain Akagi and Rukawa, disrupting Shohoku's defense and offense, and then looking for opportunities to score."
Guided by Kanon, the boys learned about the subtle interactions between Coach Tian Gang and the Ryonan team members in just a few seconds.
Throughout the match, her in-depth explanations and elaborations helped everyone gain a more comprehensive understanding.
"Later on, Ryonan adopted a delaying tactic. Pay attention to this section, and also..."
Players' positions, opponents' plans and signals, the referee's standards, and the coach's tactics are all constantly changing during the game, intertwining and interacting with each other.
The boys suddenly realized, "So, this is how you can watch a game?"
Her beautiful fox eyes blinked.
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